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 17th, 2012.
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 17th, 2012.