The recent devastating floods have damaged almost 8 million acres of agricultural land countrywide, causing shortages of fruit and vegetables. To overcome crop shortages, the government has decided to distribute free high-quality seeds to the farmers in the flood-hit areas, reports. According to an official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), the government has allocated sufficient funds for the distribution of free seeds to poor farmers whose crops have been badly destroyed, causing them substantial losses.
“The government has decided to distribute the seeds through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and has released Rs4 billion for procurement. Additionally, the government will provide Rs4 billion more to seriously address this issue. The flood-hit areas need 2.99 million seed bags for the upcoming Rabi season,” he added.
He further said floods had destroyed almost 80% of agricultural land in Balochistan, due to which food shortage and poverty will reach a high level. He said it was agreed that the provincial governments would match the amount announced by the federal government.
The official further said under this project, farmers in Sindh and Balochistan, as well as in one flood-hit district each of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, would be provided with free seeds for wheat and oilseed crops, including mustard and sesame. In order to prepare as much agricultural land for crops as possible, the government is dewatering Sindh and Balochistan, he added.
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