PESHAWAR: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has begun the largest distribution of wheat seeds for Rabi crops to revitalise farming in four militancy-hit agencies of Fata, said a statement issued here on Monday.

“This is the largest Rabi seed distribution drive for this year in Fata,” the statement said.

A total of target beneficiaries 100,626 including 42,446 in North Waziristan, 30,128 in South Waziristan, 9,600 in Kurram and 18,452 in Khyber Agency. The campaign will be completed by the end of November.

The UN agency has started seed distribution drive in Bara, Khyber Agency, last week and 2,571 beneficiaries received seed packages.

UN agency says campaign meant to revitalise farming in four agencies

It said 1,924 growers received 50 kilograms of wheat seed each, which could be sown on one acre of land.

Another 647 beneficiaries, who rely on livestock production for their livelihood, were given fodder package.

Lentil seed, which is considered a cheap source of protein, is also being distributed along with oat seed. Lentil intercropping with oat will help in the provision of nitrogen which is an essential element for plant growth.

FAO’s operation is linked to ensuring food security. The beneficiaries are the internally displaced persons, who have recently returned to their homes in their area which was hit by conflict.

Like other sectors the decade long conflict had badly affected agriculture sector in the militancy hit areas of Fata. Large numbers of people depend upon agriculture.

World Food Programme and its partners had conducted study which showed returnees were vulnerable to food insecurity as majority of them own agricultural land with low productivity.

“The returnee populations are vulnerable to food insecurity. Overall, 28 percent of the households have acceptable food consumption, 18 percent have poor consumption, while 54 percent have borderline consumption and 44 percent of households suffer from a caloric consumption deficit, considering a minimum daily requirement of 2,100 Kcal per person,” said the report.

The return of the IDPs to their homes is in progress. The government has planned to complete return process by the end of November.

The statement said holistic approach had been adopted in its project activities where seed distribution was carried out. In addition, IDPs had been facilitated in land reclamation so that the land which could no longer be used was made fit for cultivation again.

This also includes rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and capacity building through Farmer Field Schools and Women Open Schools.

The FAO seed distribution is supported by the Agriculture Extension Directorate of the Fata Secretariat. The Pakistan Army provides security to the FAO’s distribution points to facilitate the entire process.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2016