The Asian Development Bank has approved the provision of technical assistance of $350,000 on a grant basis to Pakistan government for the national agriculture sector strategy to rationalise investments, and demonstrate how the proposed new initiatives will help achieve sustainable agricultural growth and alleviate rural poverty.
According to ADB sources, the technical assistance was estimated to cost $440,000. The federal and provincial governments are expected to provide in-kind contribution worth $90,000 for office accommodation, counterpart staff, and logistic support.
The sources said the Pakistan government had requested an advisory technical assistance grant from the ADB to support the development of its medium-term national agricultural strategy, as reflected in the country strategy and programme update 2005-2006.
The TA proposal is based on a fact-finding mission from 1 to 17 October 2005, which held extensive consultations with representatives of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal); Pakistan Agricultural Research Council; Planning Commission; World Bank; provincial departments of Planning and Development, Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation; and other stakeholders.
According to the fact-finding mission, the study of proposed national agricultural strategy was worthwhile. There is a broad agreement among stakeholders that the study should use existing data and information from national and provincial government documents, such as the medium-term development framework, federal and provincial agriculture and water resource policies and strategies, and other relevant publications from donor agencies.
The study should be based on an extensive consultative process involving all stakeholders, including provincial and federal governments, farmers, traders, processors, non-government organisations (NGOs), autonomous and private academic and research institutions, and donor agencies.
It should take into account regional differences between and within provinces in terms of resources, constraints, requirements, and priorities. Finally, the study should focus more on the "how to do" rather than "what to do" aspects of the prioritised needs of provinces and the federation.
The strategy documents will be prepared, taking into account regional, provincial, and national requirements, through a consultative process led by the provinces and facilitated by the federal government.
The technical assistance would review in detail recent developments in the agriculture sector at the national and provincial levels; identify major issues, challenges, recommend appropriate measures and policies to benefit small farmers and women, the sources added.
The sources disclosed that the proposed strategy would help identify triggers to support agricultural growth on a sustainable basis, rising farm productivity and profitability for ensuring food security, enhancing household income, expanding rural employment, decreasing intra-provincial disparities, and reducing rural poverty. In sustaining the growth process, special attention must be paid to resource management and conservation, and the expanded role of the private sector. The strategy should aim at promoting science-based, innovative farm practices that enhance the economic efficiency and export competitiveness of the agriculture sector with emphasis on food security, value addition, and comparative advantage for resource allocation.
Public sector capacity to plan and facilitate agriculture development must be strengthened, with particular emphasis on its regulatory functions, investment in infrastructure and public-private partnerships. At the same time, incentives and support for the private sector must be designed and implemented to harness its competitive advantage for sustainable agricultural enterprises.
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