Over Rs2,092mn released for projects under PM Agriculture Emergency Program

• The Planning Commission of Pakistan has given the authorization for the release of funds for over 14 projects.
• The government has also released Rs. 130 million for productivity enhancement of wheat.
• The government had released Rs. 1,200 million for national program for the improvement of watercourses in Pakistan Phase-2.

ISLAMABAD: The government, under its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the fiscal  year 2019-20 has released an amount of Rs. 2,092 million for different agriculture sector development projects initiated under 'Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Program' for the uplift of agriculture and livestock sectors to alleviate poverty from the country.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan has given the authorization for the release of funds for over 14 projects initiated under Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Program that includes watercourse improvement, crop enhancement, backyard poultry faring, fish farming and cage fish culture.

The authorization for release for also given for other initiatives under the program including calf fattening, foot and mouth disease control and enhancing the command areas in small dams.

According the data, the government had released Rs. 1,200 million for national program for the improvement of watercourses in Pakistan Phase-2 as against the total allocation of Rs. 5,500 million in order to conserve water resources.

The government has also released Rs. 130 million for productivity enhancement of wheat under Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Program against the total allocation of Rs. 650 million for current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Rs. 90 million was released for productivity enhancement of rice as the government has earmarked Rs. 450 million for the project in its current year development agenda.

Under PSDP 2019-20, Rs. 40 million was released for Prime Minister's Initiative for save the calf and Rs. 40 million for productivity enhancement of sugar cane as the government had allocated Rs. 200 million for these projects respectively.

Under PSDP 2019-20, Rs. 120 million was released for national oilseed enhancement program as against the total allocation of Rs. 600 million and Rs. 10 million for backyard poultry.

Under current year's development program, an amount of Rs. 40 million was also released for promotion of trout cage farming in northern areas of the country in order to exploit the fresh water fish farming in these areas as well as providing livelihood opportunities for a large number of population living across these areas.

In order to minimizing the reliance on imported edible oil, the government has stated oil seed development and released Rs. 80  million for the promotion of olive cultivation on commercial scale as against the total allocation of Rs. 400 million for the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, an amount of Rs. 60 million was also released for national pesticides resides residues monitoring system in the country as an amount of Rs. 300 million allocated for this project in its annual development program for the year 2019-20.

It may be recalled here that The government has so far released Rs. 2,409.503 million for several agriculture uplift  projects under its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for financial year 2019-20 as against the total allocation of Rs. 12,047.516 million for the current financial year.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan was releasing the funds as per quarterly ceilings which was comprising on first quarter (July – September) 20pc, second quarter (October – December) 20pc, third quarter (January – March) 30pc and fourth quarter (April – June) 30pc.