KARACHI, June 11: The Sindh government has allocated Rs13.69 billion (which includes Rs10.9 billion annual development plan) for the agriculture sector for 2012-2013.

This was announced by Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while presenting the budget 2012-2013 in the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

“Agriculture is the backbone of country’s economy and it may not be possible to fight poverty without addressing issues related to greater agriculture productivity. Compared to 2007-2008 (Rs3.25 billion) the proposed development funding is almost 350 per cent higher,” he said.

The government, he said, is committed to its pro Hari policies for generating employment in on-farm and off-farm activities and providing raw material for industry and exports.

“After the 2011 disaster, the government gave a relief package of Rs two billion for growers of disaster affected districts. Under this package, about 55,000 tons of wheat seed, 23,000 tons of urea and 500 tons of sunflower seeds were provided to farmers,” he informed.

He said subsidy was provided for 6,000 tractors at a cost of Rs two billion, adding that during 2012-2013, subsidy will be provided for another 15,000 tractors.

Counting on major schemes for the next financial year, he said, “Sindh Bank will manage agriculture credit line for small farmers at 7pc

interest subsidy at a cost of Rs four billion.” The allocation for current year is Rs two billion.

Other salient features of the schemes included subsidy assistance on agriculture implements for farm mechanisation (allocation Rs100 million), Sindh on-farm water management project (allocation Rs740 million) and setting up of Agro Expo Processing Zone for fruits, vegetables, flowers and allied products.

Other initiatives proposed in agriculture sector include the Agriculture Department purchasing its own bulldozers after 20 years, construction of mirchi mandi at Kunri and community integrated pest and plant nutrition management.

To ensure food security in Sindh, the construction of grain silos in collaboration with the IFC is also mentioned. The silos will have a total storage capacity of 500,000 tons.

He said some of the notable schemes of Sindh Bank included disbursement of agriculture loans worth Rs100,000-500,000 to small farmers by issuing Benazir Zarai Cards. To date, around 2,000 small farmers have been advanced Rs430 million. The Abadkar Tractor Scheme has been introduced which will be in full swing during the next financial year.

The total development expenditure on agriculture, food, irrigation, forestry and fishing is estimated at Rs31,880 million in 2012-2013. The share for fishing sector is Rs1,065 million for 2012-2013 followed by Rs1,034 million for agriculture research and extension services, Rs2,487.9 million for animal husbandry and Rs8,000 million for irrigation.