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ADB approves $350 m for agri sector development
ISLAMABAD-Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Dec 13, 2001
approved a loan of $ 350 million for the development of
Pakistan's agriculture sector.
Detail
Chashma Right Bank Canal-III nearing completion
LAHORE-The 90 mile third and final stage of Chashma Right Bank
Canal along with 200 miles of flood carrier channels have been
substantially completed by Wapda in association with the Turk
contractors 101 days ahead of the scheduled date.
Detail
Zinc Sulphate to start commercial production very soon
ISLAMABAD-Zinc Sulphate Plant
having a capacity of 4-5 metric tones daily will start
commercial production shortly. After completion of shifting
process of Zinc Sulphate Plant
of National Fertilizer Corporation from Faisalabad to
Jaranwala in March 2001 the plant has started functioning.
According to official sources the Zinc Sulphate Plant was
installed at Faisalabad in 1988 having a capacity of 6 metric
tones a day but later it was found that its operations were
uneconomical so that production of S.S. Powder and Zinc
Sulphate were stopped in 1996.
After revival of S.S. Powder Plant at Jaranwala, it was also
decided to shift the Zinc Sulphate plant from Faisalabad to
Jaranwala for its economical production as Zinc Sulphate is
the most required fertilizer for the crops of rice, wheat,
cotton, maize, orchard and vegetables.
The application of fertilizer on crops and fruits increases
10-20 percent yield per acre.
The NFC is also planning to meet the estimated demand of
around 10,000 metric tonnes of Zinc Sulphate per annum, the
sources said.
Competition can raise qualtiy of livestock business
OKARA-The district nazim Syed Sajjad Haider has said that a
healthy competition in the private and public sector in
livestock breeding will benefit breeders, the people and the
country by gaining self sufficiency in milk and meat products.
He was meeting with a deputation of farmers and cattlebreeders.
He said the Livestock Department has ample natural resources which can be
further promoted. The concerned people should take advantage
of this opportunity and envigorate their cattle-breeding
business by the help of positive measures taken by the
government through
the Livestock Department, the District Nazim observed.
Working Group on Shisham Dieback submits suggestions
ISLAMABAD-A Working Group on Shisham Dieback has recommended
short term measures to be taken by the tree growers in order
to arrest Shisham tree diseases. Detail
SUNGI
arranges seminar on WTO Doha conference
PESHAWAR-SUNGI Development
Foundation has organised a day long seminar on "WTO Doha
conference and future strategy for Pakistan" at a local hotel
in Abbotabad on Dec 13, 2001.
Dr.Shahid Zai, Executive Director of SUNGI presided over the
seminar. Representatives of local bodies, traders, NGOs, civil
societies and media groups participated in the seminar.
Dr.Shahid Zia in his address explained the post Doha scenario
and its impact on Pakistan's economy and agriculture.He
also introduced the participants with different agreements of
WTO like "Agreement on Agriculture(AOA)" and "Trade Related
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) " .He also talked
about globalisation and its impact on livelihood and
peace and security in the region
.
The WTO agreements in the present form could have serious
negative impacts on agriculture production system, making poor
more poor and widening the gap between the rich and the poor,
he maintained.
Fool-proof water distribution system activated
SUKKUR-A fool-proof and proportionate distribution system have
been activated for the 7 Canals and other Distributaries of Sukkur Barrage, keeping in view the 57 percent
water shortage faced these days
Detail
Edible oil target to be achieved
ISLAMABAD: The government has prepared a comprehensive plan to
achieve the
target set for the production of edible oil during the current
fiscal year. According to official sources the production of
around 0.60 million tonnes edible oil has been fixed for year
2001-02. The total domestic consumption of edible oil is
around 1.7 million tonnes, out of which 1.1 million tonnes is
being imported from abroad. As many as Rs.28 million are being
spent on the import of edible oil every year, the sources
added. Detail
Lining of Water Courses in Sindh
Karachi-Sindh Government has accorded ``priority'' to the
expeditious lining of thousands of water courses across the
province as it would increase production of major crops
including cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane by 15 to 30%,
besides lowering sub soil water table for checking mencace of
water logging and salinity.
Detail
AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEES HOLD
DEMONSTRATION
QUETTA-Agriculture department
employees stated a peaceful demonstration at the Sariab road
here Tuesday. According to details, employees staged a protest
demonstration at the Agricultural department Sariab road.
They staged the demonstration over non-payment of their
salaries to the surplus employees for the last eleven months.
They carried placards iscribed with their demand for the
payment of salaries. They also raised slogans in support of
their demands. During their demonstration, Sariab road
remained blocked for some time. Police arrested over two dozen
employees who were later released.
Rs.one billion for installation of
10,000 tubewells
ISLAMABAD-Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Khair
Muhammad Junejo has said an amount of Rs. 1 billion would be
spent on installation of 10,000 tubewells, of which, 5000 in
Sindh, 3000 in Punjab, 1000 each in NWFP and Balochistan to
overcome drought like situation in the country.
Detail
Sugar millers adding to cane
growers miseries
LAHORE–The sugar millers are adding to miseries of sugarcane
growers by paying them much lesser rate in the Punjab.
According to a market survey, the sugarcane growers have
continuously been ripping off by the sugar millers as they
were not being paid the official price in the province. The
price of 40 kg sugarcane is mostly ranging from Rs 28 to 32
against the announced price of Rs 42 per 40 kg.Detail
SBP predicts better harvest of cotton, sugarcane crops
LAHORE-Pakistan is likely to have 10.2 million to 10.5 million
bales of cotton this year against an original target of 8.7
million bales, according to State Bank of Pakistan's quarterly
report for the fiscal year 2001-02.Detail
Directed to pace-up the one
window operation
Sahiwal-Punjab Revenue Minister
Malik Muhammad Aslam has directed the revenue staff and the
Agriculture Development Bank Pakistan authorities in Sahiwal
district to accelerate the pace of advancing loans to the
farmers under the on window operation during the current rabi.
Presiding over a meeting and inspecting the one window
operation in Harappa, Yousafwala and Qadir Abad the Minister
expressed satisfaction over the performance of ADBP revenue
staff, agriculture and post offices department in this regard.
However, he emphasised that proper publicity and more devotion
could help in achieving target on stipulated time.
The minister was informed that loans amounting to Rs.125.2
million are being advanced during current rabi out of which
Rs.20.5 million have already been advanced. It was also told
that 10 loans advancing centres, 8 in Tehsil Sahiwal and 2 in
Chichawatni have been established.
Green Channel Scheme being
expanded in Punjab
Lahore-The sphere of Green Channel Scheme initiated in Lahore
is being expanded all over the province to persuade farmers to
carry out self-marketing of their agriculture
products.
Detail
BARANI AREA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT in NWFP
Peshawar-The NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. E Syed Iftikhar Hussain
Shah has underlined the need for efficient utilization of
resources under Barani Area Development Project.
Detail
Govt planning to close down
110 tubewells: KBP
Lahore-The Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP)
president Sadiq Khakwani has alleged that Punjab government is
planning to close down 110 tubewells in the border area under
the Indus Basin Treaty.
In a press statement he said these tubewells irrigate over
100,000 acres of land in 85 villages along the border. He said
that the government planned to close them down a few months
ago and the Wapda authorities were duly informed. It backed
down, however, under pressure from the farmers. He said these
tubewells are the only water source in the area.
The closure would thus spell economic disaster for the farmers
in the villages. Most of the villagers already live close to
the poverty line. KBP leader urged the government to
reconsider its decision.
ACP demands Rs.1 billion for agri research
Lahore-Agriculture Chamber Punjab (ACP) Secretgary General
Choudhry Sultan has urged the government to allocate Rs 01
billion for the agriculture research to meet the requirements
of World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement 2005.
He said ``We will have to become self-sufficient in
agriculture field by adopting
modern research methods and techniques to compete the world.''
Referring to the instance of Punjab having 34 districts, he
said the research with the allocation of Rs 200 million in
annual budget was being undertaken in only one Agriculture
University in the province. But only 20 per cent of budget was
spent on research while rest of amount was utilised on other
administrative matters, he added.
``The allocation of funds amounting Rs 01 billion in the
budget for the agriculture research in the dire need of hour
provided we want to stay in the agriculture market,'' he
foresighted. Choudhry Sultan also urged the government to
announce long-term agriculture policy to attract heavy
investment.
Rs 2 billion for farm to market roads
Islamabad-Federal Minister for Environment Local Government
Rural Development Labour Manpower & Oversease Pakistanis Omar
Asghar Khan said that 206 kilometer Farm to Market roads with
the cost of Rs. 2 billion in17 districts of the country would
be constructed with the assitance of Japan Government. While
addressing to the meeting here on Monday the Minister said
that Pakistan Governemnt with the assitance of Japan
Government had already constructed 730 k.m. farm road with the
cost of Rs. 4billion which helped to gear up transaction of
agricilture products in the markets.
Detail
ADBP launches countrywide loan recovery campaign
ISLAMABAD-The Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP)
has launched a countrywide vigorous recovery campaign to
provide a sound resource base for more lending to the farming
community.
Detail
Vaccination centres for
animals set up
LAHORE-Livestock and Dairy Development, Punjab has set up
2,300 vaccination centres across the province to save the
animals from infectious diseases during winter.This was
informed by the Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development
Punjab, Raees Abbas Zaidi while presiding over a departmental
meeting here on December 3, 2001.
He directed the staff to immediately provide vaccine to cattle
farmers and owners of private farms so as to protect animals
from the diseases of foot and mouth, black quarter,
hoemorrtragic septicaemia, goats from poison of intestines,
infectious and poultry from newcastle, faul pox like injurious
diseases.
He also directed the cattle farmers and owners of farms that
they should immediately contact nearest animal centre or the
staff of vaccine centres to save their animals from these
infectious diseases. Director General Livestock (Extension) Dr
Sajjad Zaheer Malik and other concerned officers of the
department also attended the meeting.
Minister inaugurates
fertilizer factory of Hiryali Agro Services
LAHORE-The government is making concrete efforts to boost the
agrarian economy which is imperative for the industrial
development of the country.This was stated by the Punjab
Minister for Revenue, Malik Muhammad Aslam Khan while
inaugurating the fertilizer factory of Hiryali Agro Services
at Kot Radha Kishin.
He said that commercial banks will provide loans on priority
basis for the development of cottage industry in rural
areas.He emphasized the industrialists to install more
agriculture and other industries in such areas. This will also
help in eliminating unemployment, he observed.
The Punjab government is fully extending financial and
technical assistance for installation of industries, the
Minister concluded.
Sugar millers will pay dues to growers: Governor
LAHORE-Punjab Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Khalid Maqbool has
stressed upon sugar mills owners to ensure timely payment of
sugarcane price to the cultivators in order
to safeguard the interest of the farming community.
Detail
Investment needed to develop floriculture
FAISALABAD-The floriculturists of the University of
Agriculture Faisalabad have stressed the need to develop
domestic flower market to exploit its domestic as well as
export potential.
Detail
Tea saplings to be planted in Swat
PESHAWAR-District Nazim Swat Dr. Mehboobur Rehman has said
that Tea saplings costing Rs. twenty lac will be planted in
Swat, during this year which will not only benefit the local
people but will also help in improving the country's economy
in future.
Detail
Rs. 640 million for agriculture development
ISLAMABAD-An amount of Rs. 640 million will be spent for the
uplift of agriculture sector and to facilitate the growers
enabling them to accelerate the pace of agricultural
development in the country.
Detail
BoI directed to increase storage capacity of agri crops
ISLAMABAD-The federal government has directed the Board of
Investment (BoI) to involve private sector for increasing
storage capacity of various agriculture crops in the
country.“The private companies have submitted Expression of
Interest (EOI) to ensure their full participation in enhancing
storage facilities meant for various agriculture crops,”
sources in BOI told The Nation soon after a crucial meeting
held here on Monday. Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood,
Agriculture Minister Khair Mohammad Junejo, Chairman Board of
Investment Waseem Haqqi and other senior level officials
attended the meeting.
Detail
Free of cost cotton seeds assured
KARACHI-Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood has assured the
growers in Balochistan that he will request the Chief
Executive of Pakistan to provide free of cost cotton seeds
this year to them like previous year.
Detail
Import duty on sugar increased to 30pc
LAHORE—Federal Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood informed
Friday that import duty on sugar has been increased from 20
per cent to 30 per cent to protect the local sugar industry.
Detail
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