The federal government has released Rs3.1 billion for the agriculture sector under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2023-24 against the total allocation of Rs8.850 billion.
According to an official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R), the amount was released during the first six months (July-December) of the current financial year for the completion of different ongoing development schemes, besides initiating the new projects of vital importance.
Out of the total released funds, an amount of Rs429.97 million was spent so far on different development schemes during the period under review for achieving sustainable agriculture growth and economic development of the country.
The government has allocated Rs 8.850 billion for NFS&R in PSDP 2023-24 for 21 different projects in the agriculture and livestock sectors. An additional Rs 250 billion was also allocated for three new schemes during the current financial year to achieve sustainable agriculture growth.
The government has allocated Rs2.8 billion for a national program for the improvement of watercourses phase-II, and Rs 900 million for the national program for enhancing the commend area in Barani areas of Pakistan and Rs 700 million for the promotion of olive cultivation on a commercial scale.
Meanwhile, Rs 500 million was earmarked for locust emergency and food security, Rs 400 million for water conservation in the Barani areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 300 million for promoting research for productivity enhancement in pulses and Rs 248 million was allocated for the production enhancement of wheat during the current financial year.
In PSDP 2023-24, the federal government has allocated Rs 147 million for better cotton initiative, Rs 100 million for cage culture cluster development and Rs 240 million for the establishment of consumer sourcing seed authenticity system and strengthening of labs of FSC&RD.
An amount of Rs 500 million was also allocated for the national oil seed enhancement program, Rs 130 million for the productivity enhancement of sugarcane Rs 235 million for the productivity enhancement of rice and Rs 440 for pilot shrimp farming cluster development.
Besides, the government has also allocated Rs 100 million for the Pakistan-Korea joint program on certified seed potato production system, Rs 100 million for professional capacity building in agriculture national reforms and Rs 50 million for the horticulture support programme.
