The government has allocated Rs 50 million in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for reclamation of 8,035 acres of land in Fata to give further impetus to agricultural production. Due to the efforts of the government, 23,774 acres of land had already been reclaimed till June 2006.
While a huge chunk of wasteland, around 181,000 acres, could be brought under cultivation through reclamation. The Agriculture Department Fata, according to a handout issued by the Fata Media Cell, has launched a project wherein on 70:30 funding share basis, the land of tribal farmers are being reclaimed. At present about 2,02,000 hectors of land in Fata is under cultivation, which is only 7.45 percent of the area and 52.74 percent of the cultivable part.
The government has distributed 771 tons of quality seed and 466 tons of fertiliser among the farmer community of Fata and it is encouraging the participatory approach in running the farm business and planning the input requirements on collective basis. Farmers of tribal areas have also been given free access to the farm service machinery for the promotion of agriculture in Fata. The construction of offices, stores, meeting and training halls, for Form Services Centres will further strengthen the relations between the government departments and farmers.
It merits a mention here that land is the only sources of income of the locals who are holding an average of 0.670 hectors per family. The government is providing seeds, machinery, marketing plan, technical assistance and other facilities to the tribesmen to increase agricultural production and further supplement their income.
A sum of Rs 220 million has been provided in the budget for current financial year for implementation of a number of schemes in agriculture sector.
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