With a view to strengthening the agriculture sector and to uplift the economic status of farmers of Pothohar region and barrani area.
Punjab government has launched command area development of small dams project through which cultivators would be motivated to cultivate cash crops instead of traditional crops while drip-irrigation system would also be promoted for optimum use of available water.
It was stated by the Caretaker Minister for Irrigation Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas while addressing farmers, here on Tuesday.
He said that initially four small dams of Pothohar region including Dongi Dam Rawalpindi, Qibla Bandi Dam Attock, Jamargal Dam, Jhelum and Dhok Tahlian Chakwal have been selected.
This project would be completed in a period of four years at a cost of Rs 164 million and a total area of 2600 acres of the said dams would be developed under the project.
Syed Dilawar Abbas said the objective was to uplift the socio-economic status of farmers of the Pothohar region. He urged farmers to sow preferably cash crops instead of traditional crops.
The Minister said that under the project co-operative societies have been established and each society have been given 10 lac for awarding interest-free loan to the farmers for purchasing best quality seeds and fertilisers etc at their door step. He further said that nurseries have also been set up for providing plants.
The caretaker Minister that 'Farmer Field Schools' have established for providing training to the cultivators where trained staff has been deputed for this purpose. Syed Dilawar Abbas said that in the first year the farmers have got an additional income of Rs 23 million. He hoped that it would further be enhanced upto 50 million in the next year. The minister said the Command Area Development Project would not only help uplift the socio-economic condition of the farmers but national economy would also be strengthened.
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