Balochistan govt decides to solarise agri tube-wells

QUETTA:

Balochistan government has decided to convert agriculture tube wells to solar power in order to solve the load shedding problem.

It has installed as many as 396 green tunnels aimed at enhancing the production of off-season vegetables and fruits in the province through tunnel farming.

Talking to APP, Minister for Agriculture Mir Asadullah Baloch said the Balochistan government had also constructed 878 water courses and 361 water storage tanks to resolve water issues in agriculture sector.

He said that the government has allocated Rs576 million in the budget to convert the tub wells to solar energy in the province.

The government will spend Rs610 million to provide urea fertilizer to farmers across the province on 50 per cent subsidized rates for the improvement of agricultural yield.

Locust attacks have also led to a significant decline in agricultural production, to offset its impact the provincial government used spray and took other basic measures for the prevention of locust.

The Balochistan government has also decided to launch Kissan Cards permanently to provide maximum relief to the farmers of the province.

The minister said the Balochistan government allocated Rs1.5 billion for providing bulldozers to facilitate the farmers across the province, especially in drought hit areas.

The power load shedding during the growing season was affecting the corps, he said, adding that the government was working to convert the tub-wells on solar energy.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2022.