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.
