Floods inflicted considerable damage to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa agriculture sector: South Korean delegation told

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Ayub Jan has said that floods have played havoc with the agricultural sector, completely destroying the irrigation system of the province. Talking to a delegation of South Korean construction company here at his residence in Tarnab on Saturday, the minister said revival of the sector would require hard struggle and work.
He said that as the floods affected many sectors, agriculture sector is the worst damaged one wherein standing crops of maize spread on one million acre of land have been destroyed, while other standing crops of rice, sugarcane and orchards have also been badly damaged.
He further said yearlong performance of agricultural research has vanished away by floodwaters as the infrastructure of research centres has been destroyed completely. Jan told the delegation that the province has vast opportunities in hydel power generation and irrigation system. In this regard, he termed reconstruction of Munda Head Works, provision of infrastructure for Pir Sabaq Research Institute and scientific seed stores and dewatering pumps need of the hour.
The head of Korean delegation expressed sorrow over the flood losses and assured full co-operation on behalf of his government to cover them. He said the company has rich experience in battling natural disasters and provision of infrastructure, which would be shared with the provincial government.
The delegation also offered their services in provision of solar system in agricultural research institutes and rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged in the floods. The delegation head assured that he would remain in contact with the provincial government and provide all possible co-operation in fulfilling their requirements. On the occasion, he announced provision of funds for the rehabilitation of agricultural sector. The meeting was attended by officials of all the agricultural sectors of provincial government.