Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government decides to use technology to innovate crop estimation and production. Instead of the traditional statistical method, satellite imaging with the help of SPARCO will now be adopted.
A PC-1 worth Rs. 22 crore has been prepared for the project which will soon be approved by the Provincial Development Working Party meeting in P&D Department. Money has been set aside in PC-1 for crop reporting, SPARCO and equipment required for the project. A special laboratory will also be set up for the project. The project will be launched on a pilot basis. If successful, it will be implemented as a comprehensive system in the future.
The meeting was chaired by Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary KP, and was attended by Secretary Agriculture, Bureau of Statistics, SPARCO officials, Irrigation, Revenue Department and P&D officials.
Due to the project, the government will be able to get accurate and timely information for decision making. Innovation and sophistication in crop production and advancement in the system of demand and supply is the need of time. The project will enable the government to map crop cultivation and production areas through satellite. The use of technology will enable the government to save resources. The system will play a vital role in planning for the future food needs of the province and will help to avoid any food crises in the future.
A review meeting of Agriculture and Livestock was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary KP Shakeel Qadir Khan in Planning and Development Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the briefing special attention is being paid to agriculture and livestock sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government is ensuring quality food supply through research and subsidy in agriculture and livestock sector. The use of modern technology is being ensured to meet food needs in a timely manner. The government has introduced various schemes to support the indigenous population.
Wheat wrappers and binders will be distributed under the ongoing wheat production plan in the agriculture sector. By January 2021, 2488 bags of potash and phosphorus have been subsidized.
Chip bud technology has been introduced under the project to increase sugarcane production. The technology saves 30% of water used for irrigation. New seeds and technology are also being introduced to increase sugarcane cultivation and production. Under the scheme, 2004 fertilizer bags have also been subsidized.
In order to increase meat production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government is also working on a scheme to provide livestock care to the local population. Vaccination of animals and the use of modern equipment are increasing meat production. In the year 21-2020, 4160 animals were registered. This year, the project has increased the meat production by 171 tons and has made a profit of Rs. 90 million so far.
Work is also underway on a project to save and care for calves in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the project, calves are being vaccinated, de-worm and 9238 calves registered this year are being treated.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up three physical rehabilitation centers in the province. Physical rehabilitation and treatment centers for the disabled will be set up in Swat, Abbottabad, and DI Khan. The cost of the project is about Rs. 17 crore.
The Paraplegic Center in Peshawar, which has been associated with the sector for 35 years, will oversee the operations of these centers. The government will provide financial resources for the project. These centers will be established in rented buildings.
Physical rehabilitation centers will provide physiotherapy, speech therapy, post-operative physical rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation to the physically challenged. Physical rehabilitation centers will have all the equipment needed for physical rehabilitation
Once the centers are established, each center will be able to provide support to 150 patients on a daily basis. These centers will provide treatment to children with birth defects as well as to the elders with disabilities.
A meeting was held in the Planning and Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to finalize the plan.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is taking steps to promote historical archeological sites in the province and provide better facilities to tourists. The Department of Archeology and Museum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with the Kite Project, has set up sign boards, detail boards and portable prefabricated toilets at Gurghatri Peshawar and Takht Bhai Mardan Archaeological Site for the convenience of tourists. These solar-powered washrooms have separate units for men, women and the disabled.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a mobile testing lab project to ensure the supply of quality milk in the merged districts. Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shakeel Qadir Khan inaugurated the project of mobile laboratories to test milk in merged districts on the occasion of his visit to Directorate of Livestock Peshawar.21 Mobile Milk Testing Laboratories will work to improve milk quality in merged districts.
Secretary Agriculture and Livestock Dr. Muhammad Israr, DG Livestock Extension Dr. Alamzeb Khan, Director Headquarters Integrated Districts Dr. Sajjad Wazir and other government officials were present on the occasion. It was informed that the project would enable the supply of quality milk to the people in the merged districts.
Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also briefed on the performance of the directorate and ongoing projects. The government is making efforts to curb substandard milk so that quality milk can be provided to the people.
Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shakeel Qadir Khan emphasized for the creation of PC-5 to assess the impact of the completed projects on the people. He also met the officers conducting the livestock survey and discussed with them the statistics related to livestock so that future planning can be improved.
