Rs334.6m released for 21 food security projects

On the other hand funds for the promotion of pulses production could not be released

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has released development funds worth of Rs334.6 million for the 21 food security projects — trout cage farming, promotion of olive oil production and prevention and cure of cattle diseases — during the ongoing fiscal year.

A total of more than Rs12 billion has been allocated for food security and research in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2019-20. However, funds for 21 projects — out of a total of 40 — could only be released, which has created a fear that the complete utilisation of funds would not be possible this year.

It is also feared that a big chunk of funds would lapse because of the slowness in the release and use of funds for the food security and research projects.

Moreover, many schemes under the PM’s Agriculture Emergency Programme — chicken and cattle farming; promotion of production of crops, including wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton; improvement of watercourses — were made part of the development projects for the ongoing fiscal year. But, no funds could be released for any of the projects.

On the other hand funds for the promotion of pulses production could also not be released.