ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: The Agribusiness Development and Diversification Board (ADDB) on Sunday launched a Rs11.374 million programme to set up training centres for farmers in Azad Kashmir.

ADDB project-director Arsad Hussain Hashmi said the project was aimed at providing essential training on new agricultural techniques and modern cultivation technologies to the farmers to get optimum output.

He said the project had started in collaboration with the AJK Food and Livestock Department in all districts of Azad Kashmir.

The AJK Food and Livestock Department has provided places for training centres and assured that it will provide fertilizers at economical rates to the farmers.

The official said the Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB) and Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) would provide financial and technical assistance for training courses and farming facilities in the field of horticulture (flower, vegetable and fruit farming) and livestock farming.

The project would be completed by 2010, he said, and added that Competitiveness Support Fund had also shown interest to assist in these areas for promotion of horticulture and livestock business.—APP