ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $600,000 technical assistance for a Balochistan project to reduce rural poverty and mitigate the impact of drought, says an ADB press release issued here.

The Balochistan Rural Development and Drought Mitigation Project will focus on generating economic activities in the province and reducing environmental degradation. Brlan Fawcett, Principal Project Economist and Mission Leader for technical assistance (TA), said the project will:

i) Give a boost to agricultural crops by using livestock services to increase productivity and farmers' income and generate employment; ii) promote improved marketing and agricultural enterprises and service delivery through the private sector; iii) mitigate the impact of the drought, focusing on community watershed and rangeland management and water conservation measures, using water harvesting and small scale community irrigation structures; iv) improve farm-to-market access linkages through rural roads; v) build capacity of poor communities; and vi) address gender and social inclusion issues.

Mr Fawcett noted the TA would ensure participation of all stakeholders and this would guide project planning and implementation.