More Area is being brought under wheat, cotton
According to the planning, the government wants to increase cotton production by 20 million bales through potential areas of Balochistan and KPK. Having considered various options for production enhancement, it is realised that a production level of 20 million bales could be achieved by 2015 with a modest increase in sowing areas in potential cotton growing areas of Balochistan and NWFP coupled with an average 5% growth in per hectare yield. The sources said that cotton alone contributes nearly 65 percent of the foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan.To bring more area under cultivation and ensure food security, the government plans to purchase 100 bulldozers for land development work in Balochistan with financial assistance of Italian government.The project titled “poverty alleviation through enhancement of agriculture productivity” (Progressive replacement of 100 bulldozers for land development work in Balochistan) will cost Rs 2.112 billion — having foreign exchange component worth Rs 1.655 billion. The project would help the government bring additional land under cultivation through leveling / development of such lands which were never under cultivation and needed reclamation through heavy earth moving machinery. Leveling of virgin land, the area to be added to the existing cultivated area will increase land under plough. Leveling of virgin land includes jungle clearance, removal of sand dunes and rocks, filling ditches of barren land to make it available for cultivation.The project sponsored by the government of Balochistan envisages procurement of 100 bulldozers (140-150 HP) with 10 percent spare parts. In addition, 6 fuel tankers, 6 (4x4) pick-ups and three jeeps (one five doors and two three doors jeeps along with 5 percent spare parts.The project is proposed to be funded through Italian Debt Swap of $100 million. All incidental charges will be borne by the provincial government. The project will be completed in a period of one year and would be executed through existing financial system of the provincial government of Balochistan. The bulldozers procured will be deployed for development of 78 thousand hectares of land (70 percent new and 30 percent existing) throughout the life of the bulldozers. The bulldozers would be hired out to the farmers at the rate of Rs 550 per hour against operational cost of Rs 3994.60 per hour involving 86 percent subsidy.
Construction of dykes for harnessing runoff of the rainfall for preservation of moisture for sailaba cultivation and preparation of new land through construction of bundats / micro dams on the streambed after silting up. Construction of delay action dams for the storage of rainwater with a view to recharge the neighboring open surface wells, tube wells and karezes etc.Sources in the minister of water and power told on Saturday that the proposed project would bring more area under cultivation. The existing degraded land will also be improved through the project. Under this scheme, about 78000 hectares of land will be developed through development of bulldozers. The additional area brought under cultivation will increase production and hence income of the farmers in project area. Consequently, it will contribute in up-lifting socio-economic conditions of the rural population of the area and will also contribute to the whole economy of the country. The objectives of the project are in line with the objectives of agriculture sector.
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