ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has approved a Rs614.10 million project for the restructuring and strengthening of agricultural research system in Balochistan. The project would be executed by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Minfal over a period of five years, an official announcement here on Friday said.

The project aims to improve the productivity of agriculture and livestock sector in Balochistan through upgrading its research system. Under the project improved technologies would be developed for efficient agriculture, livestock and fisheries production.

It would help alleviate poverty, the announcement stated.

The project would also improve sustainability of resources by reversing the degradation of fragile ecologies including range lands and forests. Short- and long-term training would be provided to farmers and researchers for improving production and productivity.

The main focus would be to upgrade and strengthen 12 agriculture and livestock research stations of the province including those in Turbat, Noutal, Khuzdar, Quetta, Harazgangi, Sibbi, Dhadhar, Saryab (Quetta) and Qila Saifullah.