Balochistan facing fertilizer crisis: minister

QUETTA:

Balochistan Minister for Agriculture Mir Asadullah Baloch has said that the province was only getting 50 per cent of its fertilizer quota which would hit the farming sector hard.

He said the provincial government has initiated work on agriculture transmission plan to convert the traditional farming techniques into a climate-smart approach for sustainable food production.

Baloch maintained that the government was making all-out efforts to ensure food security by increasing agricultural production in the region but fertilizer shortage was causing problems.

The minister said the government is all set to launch the Kissan Cards Scheme for providing maximum relief to the farmers of the province.

The Balochistan government had initially allocated Rs100 million for the registration and issuance of Kissan Cards to the farmers, he said while talking to APP.

Under the Kissan Card, the minister said, the farmers would be able to avail subsidies on fertilizers, seeds and other farming equipment.

Through the initiative, he added, the government would provide financial assistance to the farmers, which would help increase crops yield as well as development of the agriculture sector in the province.

Mir Asadullah Baloch said the government would continue its farmer-friendly measures.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2022.