The Punjab government has increased budgetary allocations for agriculture and its allied sectors and allocated Rs 925 million for agriculture development, Rs 500 million for livestock, Rs 74.186 million for forest sector, Rs 173.916 million for management, development and preservation of wildlife and Rs 40.898 million for fisheries sector in the ADP 2005-06.
According to budget document, the economic development, not only of Punjab but the country as a whole largely depends on the progress and growth of agriculture sector.
The Punjab Agriculture sector is the mainstay of the economy as its share in the Punjab's GDP is 27 percent (24 percent in the national GDP). It contributes around 73 percent of wheat, 46 percent of rice, 58 percent of sugarcane, 82 percent of gram and 78 percent of cotton in the total production of the respective crops in the country.
Given the significance of this sector in the provincial economy, an amount of Rs 925 million has been provided in ADP 2005-06, which reflects an increase of 26 percent over the last year.
In addition to the provincial funding, an amount of approximately Rs 2,500 million would be available under the Federal PSDP for the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses and Agriculture Sector Programme Loan.
The main focus of expenditure would be on agriculture research, pest control, production of high value crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and high quality seeds, extension services, and agri-marketing infrastructure development.
Introduction of new farm mechanisation technology, water management and increase in cultivable area through rehabilitation of waterlogged and saline soils also figure prominently in the provincial ADP.
Special emphasis would be given to developing pest warning and crop reporting infrastructure, floriculture, and establishment of soil testing laboratories.
A sum of Rs 500 million is provided in ADP 2005-2006 for this sector that is 140 percent higher than last year's allocation. The proposed funding would target up-gradation of livestock research institutes, breed improvement of livestock, improvement of semen production, establishment of livestock disease diagnostic laboratories, livestock fodder improvement, mobile extension facilities, provision of cool chains for dairy products to farmers through Public Private Partnership, increased credit with flexible collaterals to small livestock holders, provision of soft term lending facilities for milk processing and streamlining marketing of livestock products.
An amount of Rs 74.186 million has been provided for forest sector in ADP 2005-06. The allocated amount targets research for the control of Shisham Dieback, rehabilitation of irrigation system in major irrigated plantations, afforestation of blank reaches along canals, establishment of forest parks, enumeration of linear plantations and revamping of range lands.
An amount of Rs 173.916 million has been provided in the ADP 2005-06 for management, development and preservation of wildlife and its habitat, which is 90 percent higher than the last year's allocation.
The amount would fund development schemes, targeting improvement and rehabilitation of wildlife parks and zoological gardens, breeding centres, establishment of wildlife protection force in Cholistan and for the reintroduction of wildlife species in their natural habitat.
In the Fisheries Sector, ADP 2005-06 provides an amount of Rs 40.898 million, which is 84.4 percent higher than the current year's allocation. ADP allocations focus on research in fish disease & habitat, establishment of fish hatcheries, improvement and rehabilitation of existing nursery units, strengthening of training and publicity efforts and rehabilitation of riverine ecosystem.
Comments
Comments are closed.