News Desk:
Balochistan government approved over Rs: 15 billion in subsidies for farmers in the flood-affected areas to restore the agriculture sector. Floods severely affected the agriculture sector and destroyed standing crops in almost all parts of the province.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Qudous Bizenjo chaired a high-level meeting regarding the restoration of the agriculture sector and food security in the flood-hit areas of the province on Friday. Provincial Ministers Mir Asad Ullah Baloch, Zmarak Khan Achakzai, Chief Secretary Balochistan, Abdul Aziz Uqaili, and other concerned officials were also present on the occasion.
#BalochistanCabinet approves Rs.15bs for restoration of #AgricultureSector pic.twitter.com/LWG0zl08vb
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The Secretary of Agriculture Balochistan, Umeed Khokar briefed the meeting about the agriculture restoration plan of Balochistan. The provincial government will provide Rs: 6.71 billion in subsidies to the farmers for agricultural seeds, Rs: 6.47 billion for fertilizers, and Rs: 2.62 billion for tube wells and solar systems.
“Restoration of agriculture sector is our top priority”, CM Balochistan told the meeting.
Current torrential rains followed by flash floods affected 52 percent area of the crops in different districts. The rains and floods affected the solar tube wells and canal systems. Preserved agricultural seeds were also wasted. The damage caused to the agriculture system will result in a shortage of food.
The provincial government will provide a 70 percent subsidy on agricultural seeds and a 50 percent subsidy on fertilizers and for the restoration of solar systems, the meeting decided. This restoration of the agriculture sector will provide food security, employment to farmers, and Rs: 324 billion benefits.
Food Minister, Zmarak Khan Achakzai said that sale points were established in different spots to provide cheap flour to the consumers. The provincial government is purchasing flour from the Punjab government and PASCO to overcome the food shortage.
” Relief must be provided to the landowners and farmers in order to avoid shortage of food”, Mr. Bizenjo stated. We will not hesitate to help the farmers even if we were not able to pay the cabinet members for two months’ salaries”, the CM announced.
