ISLAMABAD The Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) has established 26 model villages across the country to experiment the success of modern methods of agriculture and introduce progressive farming among the small and medium land owners.
The pilot project was being introduced for one rabi and one kharif season which includes introduction of certified seeds and fertilizers after soil testing of each village, besides bringing in small farm machines.
President ZTBL Zaka Ashraf told Dawn that after the success of progressive farming project the concept would be introduced at district level.
The ZTBL has established 14 model villages in Punjab, 6 in Sindh, 4 in NWFP and 2 in Balochistan, and the bank has deputed one of its field officers in each district who would act as a 'master trainer' to develop skills and awareness among the local farmers.
According to the project details, the soil samples from each village would be tested in the ZTBL labs, and the experts would also enlist the nutrient requirements and other details of the soil in their report.
Awareness campaign would be launched to introduce the new technologies and equipments for modern irrigation techniques including drip irrigation and sprinkler systems, he said.
He said the bank has already signed MOUs with some international companies to introduce small and medium farm machinery.
'Pakistan needs manually operated machines specially for harvest of sugar cane and cotton,' Zaka Ashraf said and added that the systems used in
Thailand, Japan, Malaysia were more suited to Pakistan as those machines were cheap, easy to operate and small compared to the ones used in the US and Europe, as that region had farming on large land owning.
The progressive farming project launched by the ZTBL said that all the modern machines, equipments and even the certified seeds would be initially marketed by Kissan Support Services a subsidiary of the ZTBL.
Mr Ashraf said that the investments made by the bank in education and awareness programme for the farmers would eventually benefit ZTBL after fulfillment of all necessary formalities as the ZTBL would provide credit facilities to the farmers for purchase of product.
'Higher productivity would eventually mean good business for the ZTBL as farmers would have more financial benefits,' he added.
Mohammad Nadeem Chohan SEVP ZTBL said that the programme was aimed at creating awareness among the farmers and modernise farming in the country.
'It was a long-term move and the widespread impact of the project would be visible in 5 to 10 years,' said Mr Chohan. He said that mechanisation of agriculture would not create joblessness in rural areas, but it would help in diversification of career opportunities in rural areas.
'Many people from the landless farming community would eventually become mechanics, salespersons and even self-employees when large scale small and medium sized machines are introduced in coming years,' he added.
