02 November 2004	Tuesday	18 Ramazan 1425

QUETTA, Nov 1: United States ambassador to Pakistan Ms Nancy Powell here on Monday launched a $6 million project to help small farmers of Balochistan increase their earnings by improving farm practices.

The project is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and would be implemented over the next three years by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the provincial agriculture department.

The plan would initially be implemented in districts Loralai, Mastung and Kila Saifullah where the FAO and the agriculture department would work with farmers to improve crop yields and introduce better farming practices.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Nancy Powell highlighted the importance of the project in view of the current drought-like situation being faced by the province. "By introducing stronger seed varieties, improving on-farm water system and strengthening range and livestock management, the project will help improve the livelihood of the people of Balochistan," she observed.

She said the world had examples of communities living in arid conditions like major parts of Balochistan and they had developed sustainable agriculture. The condition of the province could also be improved by bringing this experience here, she added.

The project would introduce new technology, livestock management, agro-processing, water conservation and marketing techniques, she said and maintained that the USAID and FAO would also provide fund to help community groups implement their ideas.

She said the project was expected to benefit some 50,000 to 75,000 farmers in Balochistan directly while triple of the same number indirectly.

"We also launched a project with the Khushhali Bank in Balochistan last year, which proved successful as over 70,000 women became able to earn livelihood and play their role in the development of the province by launching their small businesses after taking micro credits from the bank," she said.

The USAID was also extending cooperation to Balochistan in education sector, under which teachers were being imparted training to polish their professional skills, she said.

Balochistan Minister for Agriculture Maulana Faizullah, speaking on the occasion, lauded the US cooperation to Pakistan, particularly for Balochistan, in various sectors and welcomed the new project.

He urged the USAID to also include his district Ziarat in the project, arguing that it was one of the most badly-affected districts of the province by drought-like condition.

Provincial secretaries of agriculture and livestock also spoke on the occasion.