LAHORE, June 9: The Punjab government has spared more than Rs5 billion for its agriculture, which is an improvement of 146 per cent as compared to the last year’s allocation.

Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman told the house irrigation would get another Rs11 billion, making the total allocation around Rs16 billion.

On-farm water management gets priority in this budget and as does sprinkle and drip irrigation. Farmers would also get subsidised laser levellers during the year. The Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Programme, a five-year plan, is being launched at a cost of Rs35 billion. The project will get Rs3.14 billion.

The government has mega projects in the sector which will cost over Rs84 billion. From the next year, Rs28 billion projects would be launched which included Rs12 billion for the restoration of Jinnah Barrage. Similarly, Khanki Barrage would also be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs23 billion. Remodelling of SMB Link Canal and Mailsi Syphon would be carried out at a cost of Rs1.5 billion.

Around 12 small dams are being built in the Pothohar region at a cost of Rs7.76 billion. Of them, 11 would be completed by June this year. These are in addition to three mini-dams which are under way.

The Punjab government is building modern silos for wheat storage at a cost of Rs200 million and with the technical assistance of IFC, he added.