PESHAWAR, Dec 3: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said that provincial government has devised a 10-year policy to make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa self-sufficient in agriculture produce.He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of mechanised farming project at Tarnab Farm here on Monday. He said that mechanised farming and the agriculture policy, devised with the help of Food and Agriculture Organisation, would prove harbinger of financial prosperity of farmers and progress in the agriculture sector of the province.

He said that farmers would be facilitated through the project to get more production from their farms with the help of modern technology, suitable environment and other facilities.

Provincial ministers Arbab Mohammad Ayub Jan and Haji Hidayatullah and MPA Saqib Chamkani, administrative secretaries of agriculture, livestock and fishery departments, vice-chancellor of agricultural university, faculty members, scientists and farmers were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister said that under the 10-year policy, the government allocated Rs2 billion to agriculture sector that year.

He said that under the policy, farmers would be provided with modern technology at subsidised rates besides other benefits and facilities. He said that resources would be provided to model farm services centres in the form of endowment fund.

Mr Hoti said that government was committed to replacing the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge. Establishment of eight universities, scholarships for intelligent students, financial assistance to students of far flung areas through public private-partnership, incentives for families of girl students in Torghar and Kohistan districts and other programmes manifested the commitment of government, he added.

The chief minister said that future of the province was linked to investment in hydel power, oil and gas and agriculture sectors. He also approved construction of road from G.T. Road to Tarnab Farm.

Mr Hoti said that Kalabagh dam was a controversial project and the stance of provincial government and Awami National Party was clear on the issue. He said that Kalabagh dam was not in favour of the province on technical grounds.

Regarding alliance with JUI-F in the coming elections, he said that ANP had its options like other parties. He said that doors of ANP were open to all.

Regarding the interim setup, Mr Hoti said that suitable time for the setup would be declared after consultation with the leader of opposition.