KARACHI, July 2: Adviser to the Chief Minister Mir Murtaza Khan Jatoi has said that a sum of Rs323.943 million has been released for the first phase of six federal government-funded schemes for the year 2006-07 under the Agriculture Sector Programme Loan-II.

The total estimated cost of these schemes is Rs910.528 million. “These schemes will not only boost the agriculture sector, but will also help introduce modern technology,” the adviser said while presiding over a high-level meeting which reviewed progress of these schemes.

Mr Jatoi emphasised on early initiation and timely completion of all the schemes.

He highlighted the importance of modern technology in agriculture sector, saying: “Introduction of modern technology, would not only help us save irrigation water, but also increase the per-acre-yield.”

The adviser was informed that work on these projects had been started. He was also told that for the establishment of a project management unit, an amount of Rs10.92 million had been allocated in new budget as against its total cost of Rs36.984 million.

The meeting was also informed that an amount of Rs64.5 million, meant for streamlining the agriculture marketing system on sound footings, had been released as against its total cost of Rs107.617 million.

Another amount of Rs74.057 million was being released to increase the agriculture production through consolidation of research and development activities.

The meeting was also informed that Rs82 million would be released for upgrading of soil and water testing laboratory and soil chemistry testing laboratory whereas Rs88.868 million would be released for setting up of a bio-technology and genetic engineering research institute.—APP