USAID-ERDA helps flood-hit farmers
PHOTO: FILE
USAID’s Economic Recovery and Development Activity (USAID-ERDA) decided to provide assistance to Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperative Department, Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on its call and will provide 743 tons of certified wheat seed and 1,485 tons of fertilizer to 14,850 flood affected farmers from Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, and Khyber districts to ensure food security during the current cropping season.
Secretary Agriculture Livestock K-P Dr Muhammad Asrar Khan said that due to the heavy rains and floods this year, the entire country was badly affected.
As a result, agriculture, livestock, shelter homes and basic infrastructure of life suffered great damage due to which the government of Pakistan had declared a flood emergency and appealed to all institutions for help.
He said that at the re- quest of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, USAID’s Economic Recovery and Development Activity (USAID-ERDA) decided to provide assistance to ensure the availability of food in the flood-stricken districts of DI Khan and Peshawar.
Addressing a function organized regarding the distribution of wheat seeds and fertilizers among the land owners affected by the recent floods, he expressed, “We are very grateful to USAID-ERDA for helping us in this hour of need”.
He further said that farmers are the most affected section and they need our help to recover their losses and get back on their feet. USAID has always played an important role in pro- viding assistance, and we expect them to continue their support in restoring the prosperous lives of our farmers.
Sharing the details, Asrar said that USAID-ERDA and the Department of Agriculture jointly conducted a quick assessment of 1,900 families of affected farmers in three tehsils of Mathra, Shah Alam and Chamkani of Peshawar district, providing certified wheat seeds and fertilizers to each farmer. This aid will ensure food security for the affected population of Peshawar.
Moreover, 1,900 bags of wheat (50 kg per bag) have been provided to flood-affected farmers in Peshawar along with certified seeds and 3,800 fertilizer bags (50 kg per bag) earlier.