The NWFP Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Arbab Muhammad Ayub Jan, has said that 2.7 million acre land will be brought under cultivation to meet the wheat requirement in the next five years. He said this while presiding over a high level meeting of agriculture extension wing here on Saturday.
Director General (DG) Agriculture Extension, Saifullah Khan, briefed the minister about the projects, achievements and performance of the department. However, the minister asked the DG to present the barren land scheme in the coming Annual Development Programme (ADP) with positive suggestions so that the desired goals could be achieved in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, expressing his commitment he said that 44% of the population in NWFP was living below the poverty line and the present government was fully committed to upgrading the socio-economic condition of a common man.
Also he said the agriculture was an important sector and revolutionary steps in the sector would lead to rise per capita income. He also urged the officials to pay heed to the sector of horticulture, in view of the favourable climate and environment.
"Paper work shall be completed for the approval to specify the Tarnab Farm for horticulture and Pir Sabaq Farm for agriculture purpose", the minister said. For agriculture sector the budget allocation is less than one per cent whereas the sector was showing 8 percent of the GDP, he said.
He, however, added that allocation for this sector would be increased in the next upcoming fiscal budget so that the marked goals could easily be achieved. On the occasion he stressed the department to have a close liaison with irrigation department and each scheme should be initiated with mutual understanding.
He said that olive cultivation would be encouraged and said that a meeting would be held with the NWFP Governor regarding the introduction of olive cultivation in some parts of Fata. He also directed DG Extension to put up a feasibility report for the establishment of international standard market with all the basic facilities where from fruit and vegetables could be exported to Gulf and other countries.