The Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has demanded Rs 2,462 million for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in next federal budget.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that Minfal has demanded this amount to build up a diversified plan with 21 new schemes to develop agricultural infrastructure and to ensure availability of inputs and pesticides to properly look after the crops.
The PSDP proposed by the ministry is under discussion in the Planning and Development Division and it will be finalised most likely by middle of this month, sources said.
The priority committee held two meetings on the public spending plan, which was higher than last year's allocation of little over Rs 1.5 billion.
The PSDP includes around Rs 1000 million as local currency component and Rs 1400 million as foreign currency component.
The ministry expects to get Rs 1250 million in the shape of foreign aid while Rs 137 million would be met from own resources.
The new projects include research work on crops, plants and animals. They also feature some development work and renovation of link roads and lining of irrigation channels to improve their condition and make sure the maximum utilisation of water for irrigation purposes.
The projects also include agricultural sector development loans, which are presently being provided by commercial banks besides Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTB).
The PSDP also includes allocations for 32 ongoing projects. The Planning and Development Division has approved 21 new schemes while two new projects were disapproved due to some reasons, sources said.
The Minfal is eager to have well-thought strategy during next 2004-05 to improve the agricultural sector that did undergo heavy troubles in Rabi and Kharif crops and both cotton and wheat production remained lower than the targets last year.
According to sources, neither of the ongoing projects was abandoned in the proposed PSDP.
Through enhanced allocation the new schemes would not affect the ongoing projects.
The new projects will have special emphasis on crops' maximisation in order to make the country self-sufficient in wheat. Fibre testing laboratories will be established in five districts in Punjab and Sindh before the commencement of Kharif season, sources said.