BALOCHISTAN’S agriculture sector is set to get larger allocations in FY16, with focus on crop raising, mechanisation of farm and livestock activities and the development of fisheries.

In FY15, the provincial government had set aside Rs6.35bn for agriculture; Rs2.6bn for livestock; Rs758m for forestry and Rs550m for fisheries.

Balochistan government officials say in FY16, a modest increase is expected in the budget for these areas adding that the province also expects some special initiatives from the federal government to promote farming and fisheries.

These officials are anticipating full or part federal financing of a Gwadar-related fisheries development scheme and phase II of an ongoing plan to provide solar-powered tube wells to farmers of remote areas of the province. The province itself plans to promote fishing and fish processing in and around Gwadar for which sufficient funds are being allocated.

In the crop sector, some incentives are being considered for boosting cotton production from the current 77,000 bales to 100,000 bales and for promoting Basmati rice cultivation, provincial officials say without giving details. Funds are also being allocated to help farmers get certified seeds of wheat and pulses; in FY16 budget special focus would be made on encouraging producers of vegetables and fruits.

Balochistan is a food-deficit province, and the food storage issue is expected to get more

attention in the new budget

An ongoing Rs50m project for apples’ grading and packaging is expected to get more funds. The project has so far benefited apple growers in Ziarat and Kalat districts and bigger fund allocation is expected to extend the programme to some other districts as well.

Sizable funds are likely to be set aside for setting up a dates processing and packaging unit in the Makran region where the best varieties of dates are grown. The provincial government is also planning establishment of a tomato paste plant to cut post-harvest losses and boost its’ value-added production.

Officials say that a Rs70m olive cultivation project in arid and semi-arid areas would possibly get more funds out of the next annual development plan.

Some specific projects in agricultural research are also likely to be announced in the next year’s budget with an aim to improve supply of certified seeds and increase per-hectare crop yields of various crops. These projects include not only provision of research facilities but also construction of research centres in less-developed districts of the province.

In livestock sector, the Balochistan government is going to set up a meat processing and packaging plant in Quetta at a cost of Rs50m. This would help livestock breeders of the province to get a fair price for their animals besides opening up opportunities for better local marketing and export of processed meat. Some other measures are being considered for ensuring availability of animal and poultry vaccine at affordable prices to livestock and poultry breeders. On agenda is also the construction/upgrading of veterinary hospitals for livestock development research facilities.

To combat shrinking grazing fields and higher mortality of animals, the growing of forage crops in various districts, particularly in lower Balochistan would also come under focus in the new year’s budget.

With the help from the federal government, financial assistance may also be offered for setting up environmentally-controlled sheds for poultry birds.

In the pre-budget session of Balochistan assembly, the issue of Balochistan’s share in federal annual development fund was raised and Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik informed the house that he had sought Rs15bn additional funds out of the federal PSDP.

Officials say the federal initiatives may or may not have an impact on the ongoing projects in social sector, but in agriculture, however, the federal support will come in crops raising, livestock, fertiliser and green energy--- the areas that have the federal blessing.

Balochistan is a food-deficit province, and the food storage is expected to get more attention in the new budget. Officials of Balochistan’s agriculture and cooperative department say the provincial government may come up with projects for food storage similar to the one recently concluded with the help of the US department of agriculture. Under that project, 78 cold storage houses and banana ripening units and drying tunnels have already been constructed by some of Balochistan’s farming organisations,

“Using this model, more of food and fish storage facilities can be built. In the next year’s budget some financing would be made in this and similar projects as well,” according to a source privy to the budget making process.

Establishment of flake ice units for fish preservation, provision of financial and technical help to inland fish farmers and allocation of funds for repairing or replacement of old fishing boats are being considered for enhancing fish hauling from Balochistan’s coastal areas.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, June 1st, 2015

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