Agricultural Boost: Rs3.5 billion irrigation plan approved

Plan been prepared by agricultural experts and is likely to be implemented this year in all seven districts of G-B.

GILGIT:

To bring more barren land under cultivation, the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has approved a Rs3.5 billion plan, officials said on Monday.

The plan has been prepared by agricultural experts and is likely to be implemented this year in all seven districts of G-B.

According to experts, only one per cent of the land in G-B is cultivable, as 98 per cent of the region is mountainous.

However, despite having such a low agricultural base, 90 per cent of the people in G-B are engaged in agriculture and livestock for their sustenance.

According to a livestock expert Dr Naseer Khan, a total of Rs3 billion are spent annually on food items, especially milk, chicken and meat. “A huge amount of money can be saved if the region can become self-sufficient in producing these items by focusing on modern farming techniques,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2012.