Over Rs 624m released for food security projects

The government has so far released Rs 614.219 million for different developmental projects of the National Food Security and Research Division under Public sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16 against the total allocation of 1,545.700 million.According the data of Planning Commission of Pakistan, the government has released Rs 179 million for research for agriculture development programme as against the total allocation of Rs 428.229 million.In order to reduce reliance on import of edible oil and to reduce huge import bill, the government has released Rs 117.500 million for the promotionof olive cultivation on commercial scales across the country against the total allocation of Rs 300 million.The government has released Rs 80 million for promotion of hybrid seed production in the country in order to indigenization of hybrid seed production for enhancing crop production against the total allocation of Rs 200 million for current fiscal year.Rupees 40 million were released for national pesticide residues monitoring system whereas the government had allocated Rs 100 million for the projects for current fiscal year.In order to enhance food group exports by fulfilling the WTO standards, the government has initiated a special programme for strengthening of SPS facilities and quality inspection services in compliance with WTO and establishment of an integrated national animal and plants health inspection services and released Rs 45.700 million.A sum of Rs 20 million was also released for Pak-China cooperation for agriculture research and development for sharing the expertise and knowledge of Chinese agri-sector whereas the government has allocated Rs 50 million for the project in its current PSDP.In order to exploit the true livestock potential existing in costal belt of Balochistan province, the government has released Rs 14.57 million for establishment of livestock research institute, Turbat, against the total allocation of Rs 36.432 million.Meanwhile, Rs 14.296 million was also released for strengthening of costal agriculture research station in Bhawani, Balochistan, against the total allocation of Rs 35.740 million.News SourceNews Collated byPAKISSAN.com