Depts directed to speed up work on agri projects

Planning ministry says farm sector will take lead in SIFC priorities

ISLAMABAD:

The planning ministry directed the relevant departments to accelerate the implementation of agriculture-related projects worth billions of rupees by the time the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) took lead with farm sector as a priority, said a press release on Sunday.

The ministry had already geared up its efforts to implement the projects related to agriculture sector, keeping in view that it already topped the list of the SIFC priorities. In the current fiscal year, several projects were allocated under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the release added.

Pakistan has vast potential for foreign investments in agriculture sector. Pakistan as a semi-industrialised economy with a well-integrated agricultural sector, contributes 22.9% to the gross domestic product (GDP), creates 37.4% of jobs, ensures food security and provides raw materials for industry.

The SIFC was established earlier this year to attract foreign and local investments while targeting five key areas – agriculture, defence production, mining and minerals, information technology and telecommunication and energy.

“The government emphasises on the promotion of technology to reduce post-harvest losses, value addition for grain, fruits and vegetables, productivity enhancement of major crops, engage women and youth in agriprenure, agri-business and to promote agricultural research,” the press release said.

“Pakistan’s potential of export of food products is limited by strict international standards. Keeping in view the significance of fruits and vegetables a ‘Horticulture Support Programme’ is a project being started worth Rs1 billion to address the key constraints to horticulture crops,” it added.

The press release said that the Prime Minister’s National Programme for Solarisation of Agricultural Tubewells in Pakistan, is being started to convert 100,000 tube wells – 50,000 diesel-based and 50,000 electricity-based – to solar energy in three years.

Furthermore, the government had already established a ‘Land Information and Management System Centre of Excellence (LIMS-CoE) to improve modern agro-farming by utilising more than 9 million hectares of uncultivated state land.

The main goals of the centre include reclamation of uncultivated wasteland, creation of a master plan for modern farming, the practice of agro-intelligence for digital and precision agriculture, better utilisation of cutting-edge technology to enhance yield, and effective decision support system.