PESHAWAR, Aug 10: An NGO is implementing “South Waziristan Development Initiatives Project” a part of “Fata Strategy” funded by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) to enable the poor farmers to earn their livelihood honourably.

A statement issued here on Tuesday said under the project a total of 330 farmers have been trained in agriculture and livestock sectors in different villages in the region. Besides, under LEP unit of PPAF, SABAWON, the NGO, is providing vocational and technical training to the war stricken communities of SWA to improve their livelihoods.

The ongoing war on terror has destroyed livelihood means of the tribesmen, including their agricultural lands and livestock. Though people have restarted their lives in the villages under the protection of the army but area is pretty much barren in terms of technical services like electrical and tailoring shops, computer institutes for younger generation and driving schools. It was stated that the livestock sector needed more attention as it had been the major source of income of the tribal people since generations.

And it was time to equip the people with modern productive techniques like tunnel farming, growing off-season vegetables, crop maximisation techniques, pest control and livestock management trainings.

Keeping this scenario in mind the SABAWON is implementing the project to equip the farmers with technical and vocational training in agriculture/livestock to increase and strengthen their livelihoods.

The NGO also launched a one month residential technical/vocational training programme in the government technical and vocational training centre Dera Ismail Khan for the poor, unemployed and unskilled communities of SWA.—Bureau Report