Peshawar: The Pakistan government plans to
launch a "Mechanized Agriculture Farming Project" at an
estimated cost of USD 40 million in militancy-hit tribal belt
to ensure food security for the people.
An official of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Secretariat said the initiative will benefit more than 90 per
cent of the total population that derive their livelihood,
either directly or indirectly, from agriculture.
A lot of effort has been made in terms of project
planning to get the strategy right from the word go, the
official said.
"Eighty per cent of the cost of development will be
covered by the project while the remaining 20 per cent will
come from farmers to ensure ownership," the official said.
The project will undertake the setting up of seven
vegetable and fruit markets, one in each semi-autonomous
tribal agency. Twenty units for food processing and
preservation will also be set up.
PTI
