PESHAWAR, Jan 8: The government has started a number of multi-purpose development schemes including South FATA Development Project (SFDP) for the socio-economic, women development and agriculture uplift of the tribal area.

This multi-sectoral participatory, poverty alleviation project funded by IFAD is being implemented by the government in the three southern tribal agencies such as Kurram, North and South Waziristan Agencies, FATA Media Cell (FMC) told APP here on Saturday.

The project began its operations in January last year with an avowed task to reduce poverty in the target area in addition to improve the household food security in a sustainable manner through improved agricultural production and creating income generating opportunities.

The project's main components are women and community development, agriculture and livestock development, irrigation development, rural access roads and rural financial services, FMC added.

This ambitious plan aimed at ameliorating the lot of impoverished tribal groups and, more importantly, to rid them of the vicious circle of grinding poverty, is expected to be completed in September 2008 at a cost of Rs 1136.668 million. It will benefit approximately 540,000 people in the target areas, FMC added.

The project has been given a target of establishing 240 Women Organizations in addition to 750 male organizations during its life span of six years. Keeping in view, several socio-cultural and religious factors the project design restricts the staff that can interact with Women Organizations and the way in which this can be done.-APP