ISLAMABAD, May 6: The federal government has approved a project on the restructuring and strengthening of agricultural research system in Balochistan at a cost of Rs614.103 million. This project will be executed by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) over a period of five years and Rs10 million has been allocated for the project during the fiscal 2004-05.

The project aims at to improve the productivity of agriculture and livestock sector in Balochistan through upgrading its agriculture and livestock research system.

Under the project, improved technologies will be developed for efficient agriculture, livestock and fisheries production. This will help in alleviating poverty among farmers of arid and semi-arid areas of Balochistan.

The project will also improve sustainability of resources by reversing the degradation of fragile ecologies including range lands and forests. Short and long-term training will be provided to farmers and researchers for the improvement in production and productivity. The main focus of the project will be to upgrade and strengthen 12 agriculture and livestock research stations of Balochistan, including those located at Turbat, Noutal, Khuzdar, Quetta, Harazgangi, Sibbi, Dhadhar, Saryab (Quetta) and Qila Saifullah.—APP