For agriculture use: Unable to disburse $200m among provinces, says PARC

Amount meant to promote research and development

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) has said that getting hold of $200 million granted by the US in the Competitive Grant and Agricultural Research Boards project is difficult due to complicated accounts procedures. 

This programme is aimed at establishing research grants in different provinces under the Agriculture Innovation Program in Pakistan.

Parc officials said this at a two-day international conference on “Agriculture Innovations for improved productivity and economic growth”, organised by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in collaboration with USAID and Parc.

According to a presentation made by Parc officials, maintaining the assignment account under the directives of  the finance division has created hurdles in releasing the $200 million even after 18 months.

“Half the period for the project is over and we have not been allowed to disburse money to the provinces,” said one of the presenters at the event.

“We all are helpless in the face of complicated procedures,” he maintained.

Earlier, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan highlighted the importance of enhancing investments in research and development. “We need to enhance investment in agricultural research and development to keep up agriculture production,” said the minister.

Bosan added that the application of emerging global technologies was imperative to promote the farming sector of the country and stressed for coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors.

The minister said climate change has also endangered food security so comprehensive strategies are required to adapt.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th,  2015.

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