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Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) approved two projects under the research and development category. The first was "Enhancement in quality of fruits like Mango and "Kinno" and quantity of fruit production through development of pollination industry" focusing on pollination management through introduction of honeybee.
The other project was an initiative of Metro an international wholesale chain, in collaboration with local mango farmers. The project sought mango exports by using a cheaper mode of transportation ie sea shipment to Europe under controlled atmosphere conditions.
During the year under review, five projects costing Rs 15.54 million were approved under private sector extension services of ASF grant funding. This brings the total number of grants and the value of projects, approved under this category, to seven and Rs 17.661 million respectively.
ASF has approved 765 project grants worth a total Rs 247.80 million since its establishment for a diverse range of agribusiness projects. During fiscal year 2007-08, the ASF approved 650 project grants with a total cost of Rs 184.98 million, an increase of 196 per cent in value and 465 per cent in number of grants as compared to the previous fiscal year.
During 2006-07, the ASF had approved some 115 grants worth Rs 62.82 million. ASF annual report states that during the year the fund accomplished a number of projects including GLOBALGAP certification completion in which 13 out of 16 participating Produce Marketing Organisations (PMOs) based in Bhalwal were successful.
The ASF also trained 32 Business Development Service Providers in training the Farmers Enterprise Groups (FEGs) in entrepreneurship; the number of Farmer Enterprise Groups developed in collaboration with RSPs has now reached 940, and are comprised of almost 10,000 farmers, many of which are actively engaged in commercial activities.
During the year under review, 103 grants were approved, under this category, for diverse range of agribusiness projects costing Rs 40.134 million. This brings the total number of grants and the value of projects, including start-ups, approved under this category, to 167 and Rs 91.72 million respectively.
During the year under review, 35 grants were approved for support to Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) under various capacity building projects costing Rs 4.972 million. This brings the total number of grants and the value of projects approved under this category to 51 and Rs 5.722 million respectively.
ASF provides support in creating Agribusiness Enterprises by organising small farmers into farmer enterprise groups (FEGs). The formation of farmer groups is outsourced to eligible organisations including RSP's and other NGO's. ASF has a target to form 1,250 FEGs, during its project life.
The FEGs are then eligible to apply for ASF's support for the establishment and operation of profitable agribusiness ventures. During the year 2006-07, ASF had signed MOUs with 6 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Rural Support Programs (RSPs) for formation of 610 FEGs in different parts of country. The NGOs/RSPs engaged during the 2006-07 included Agha Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), National Rural Support.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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