QUETTA, Sept 13: The federal government is spending over Rs10 billion for developing the agriculture sector in Balochistan over the next four years.

The government had allocated Rs6 billion for the lining of 14,000 canals and watercourses and building water tanks throughout Balochistan in the next four years, making a considerable saving in water losses due to massive seepage and through flood irrigation system.

The remaining Rs4 billion will be spent on development of agriculture, livestock, establishing research institutes and undertaking projects for alleviating poverty by introducing better variety of cattle.

All these projects were at various stages of implementation, official sources said. It was considered to be the biggest contribution from the federal government for developing agriculture and mitigating human suffering following the prolonged drought conditions that prevailed for six years in Balochistan.

The aim was to make Balochistan self-sufficient in food production, official sources told Dawn. The biggest project is the lining of canals and watercourses. According to details, there are 14,000 watercourses and canals, including water tanks.

The lining of canals will go a very long way in changing the economic character of Balochistan, mainly its agriculture by conserving precious water resources. The federal government was under severe criticism for ignoring the pressing problems of Balochistan in the water sector.

According to official sources, the federal government launched the first project - Restructuring and Strengthening of National Agriculture Research at a cost of Rs614.103 million.

The other projects are strengthening animal quarantine station at a cost of Rs38.769 million; Chagai water and agriculture development at a cost of Rs567.170 million; capacity enhancement of regional plants and research labs at a cost of Rs15.915 million; cultivation of sunflower in Balochistan at a cost of Rs35 million; pesticide quality control and research lab in Balochistan at a cost of Rs19.26 million; tomato paste plant at a cost of Rs21 million; peri-urban agriculture development project (first phase) at a cost of Rs116.6 million and food security or poverty alleviation programme for the arid zones of Balochistan.

The food security programme will cover many districts of central and northern Balochistan.