RDPI Rural Development Policy Institute
The Federal government is taking concrete steps for the promotion of the agriculture sector in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
Sources said the Arid Zone Research Institute in Dera Ismail Khan had been upgraded to Arid Zone Research Centre to further boost research based activities.
Economic development, employment and education have been repeatedly termed as keys to defeating extremist ideologies. In this regard authorities in Pakistan have been trying to promote agriculture in the militancy hit areas.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy and it is need of the hour to train students in agriculture by providing them modern and research based education so that they can compete internationally, according to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Iqbal Zafar Jhagra.
While the government was doing its part in eradicating militancy and promotion of agriculture, the donor agencies and development partners too were playing their due role.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations had devised a project to assist to recovery and development of agricultural economy in Fata.
The FAO was also concerned about the ban on fertilisers in the tribal areas . The ban had been imposed as it was widely believed fertilisers were used to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
FAO project was meant to rebuild the lives of the displaced population and provide timely input on fodder, animal health, fruit tree nursery establishment, fisheries and developing irrigation systems.
APP. Denouncing militancy: Government, donors promoting agriculture in Fata, K-P. The Express Tribune, June 5, 2017.
