Peshawar(News Desk)Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, on Tuesday distributed 500 motorcycles among the field staff of the Agriculture Department under the Food Security Support Project and inaugurated plants for olive oil extraction. The event, held at the Directorate of Agriculture Extension, was attended by the Chief Minister as the chief guest. Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Major (R) Muhammad Sajjad Barakwal, other provincial cabinet members, MPAs, and officials from the Agriculture Department, were also present. During the event, the Chief Minister inspected various agricultural stalls set up by the department.
In his address, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized the abundant natural resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the agriculture sector. He lamented the lack of serious efforts in the past to harness these resources effectively. “By utilizing these resources, we can make the province and the country economically self-reliant,” he said. He reiterated the vision of the party’s founding chairman, stating, “A nation in debt can never achieve greatness.”
The Chief Minister outlined the provincial government’s commitment to modernizing the agricultural sector and aligning it with contemporary needs. He noted that the government is investing heavily in sectors with high potential, resulting in a 44% increase in the province’s revenue, with plans to double this growth. In the current fiscal year, the agriculture sector budget has been increased by 54%, with ongoing and new projects aimed at enhancing the sector. He stated that key initiatives of his government in agriculture sector include the conservation of water resources and irrigation of barren lands through various projects, such as the CRBC project and the construction of small dams adding that efforts are expected to irrigate millions of acres of barren land, contributing significantly to the country’s food security.
“To increase per-acre yield, modern farming techniques are being introduced, with a focus on achieving self-sufficiency in agricultural production and boosting exports to earn foreign exchange”, he concluded.
Provincial Minister Muhammad Sajjad Barakwal also addressed the gathering, highlighting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Security Support Project.
Initiated with the financial support of Asian Development Bank and Japan, the $88 million, five-year project, KP Food Security Support Project aims to improve food security in the province.
The project focuses on agricultural development in flood-affected districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat, Malakand, and Upper Dir. It will also promote climate-resilient agriculture, provide certified seeds and fertilizers to 450,000 farmers, and encourage vertical farming to increase vegetable production.
Similarly, the project will develop a centralized database of farmers, establish IT-based systems for pest control and crop monitoring, and provide training in kitchen gardening and food processing to 28,000 women. The provision of kits for seed cleaning, storage, and chemical safety is also part of the project’s objectives.
