Agro projects: Rs67m earmarked for NWA

Department will cultivate a model plot for peanuts on 22 acres of land and potatoes on 400 acres in the agency.

MIRANSHAH: A grant of Rs67 million will be spent on various agricultural projects in North Waziristan Agency by the agriculture department in the ongoing year. Khalid Salim, an official of the agriculture department in Miranshah, told farmers and journalists on Sunday. The department would cultivate a model plot for peanuts on 22 acres of land and potatoes on 400 acres in the agency. “A cold storage will also be established in Miranshah,” said Salim, adding date trees would be planted on 25 acres. Salim further said that the establishment of a cold storage would prevent a large amount of vegetables and fruits from perishing and farmers from incurring losses. The agency’s farmers pledged to cultivate fruits and vegetables to cooperate with the agriculture officials and to fulfil food needs of the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.