Punjab government has allocated a sum of Rs 13,160 million collectively for the agriculture and livestock and dairy development sectors for the year 2014-15 against the allocation of Rs 7,974 million in 2013-14. As per budget documents, the allocation for agriculture is Rs 7,960 million while for the livestock and dairy development it has been proposed to allocate a sum of Rs 5,200 million for the year 2014-15.
The new initiatives in the coming financial year are introduction and adaptation of advanced technologies through local development to mechanise various Farm Operations; management of Fruit Fly with special reference to non-conventional methods; targeting Malnutrition and Low Productivity through balanced use of fertilizer; Development of Castor bean varieties and Sunflower Hybrids to enhance Oilseeds production; establishment of Punjab Bio-Energy Institute (PBI) at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF); establishment of export oriented floriculture centre at Pattoki; livestock & access to market project (IFAD assisted); establishment of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Bahawalpur; enhancing dairy production through exotic Semen; Up-scaling Research Centre for Conservation of Sahiwal Cattle (RCCSC) Genetic Improvement Programme at Jhang; Establishment of Model Veterinary Hospital at One Tehsil of each Division in Punjab and Provision of Rural Poultry Breeds through Augmenting R&D.
Agriculture and livestock have immense economic potential as these provide food and fiber besides being major source of foreign exchange. Livestock is a newly emerging economic sector with high potential in terms of economic returns. Livestock contribution to agriculture value added stood at 55.9 percent while it contributes 11.8 percent to the national GDP during 2013-14.
Budget document says in the context of global food crisis of 2008, major focus in Agriculture & Livestock is on meeting the challenges of food security and increase the growth rate for employment generation and poverty reduction in the rural areas. Hence, self-reliance, food security and promotion of exportable high value crops, milk and meat productivity enhancement accompanied with improved marketing are the key areas of emphasis.
The Annual Development Programme (ADP) also threw light on brief development initiatives during the current financial year which include producing frontline agricultural extension workers by conducting three year Diploma in Agricultural Sciences, establishment of an 'In-service Agricultural Training Institute at Karor, District Layyah', strengthening and co-ordinating existing research activities on mangoes leading towards development of new varieties, productivity improvement and enhancing export of mangoes, establishment of Mango Research Institute at Multan has been completed.
During second year of mega project "Punjab Irrigated-Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project", 1,500 Laser leveller units were distributed to service providers at a subsidy of Rs 225,000 per unit, High Efficiency Irrigation Systems were installed on 7,000 acres at a subsidy of 60 per cent of the cost, lining of 1,500 watercourses in canal command and 500 irrigation schemes in non-canal command areas were completed.
To fulfil regulatory requirements under Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971 adopted by Government of the Punjab, establishment of a 'Provincial Pesticide Reference Laboratory' at Kala Shah Kaku have been started at a total cost of Rs 147.736 million for a period of two years. It may help resolve the issues related to quality control of pesticide samples, provide analytical service to the purchaser of pesticides and effectively contribute in pesticide anti-adulteration campaign in Punjab.