ISLAMABAD, Jul 17 (NNN-APP) – The World Bank, yesterday, approved 200 million U.S. dollars in financing, to increase Pakistan’s agricultural resilience and support the country’s eastern Punjab province in transforming the agricultural sector.
“The agricultural sector in Punjab is central to Pakistan’s economy and food security, as it accounts for 73 percent of the country’s total food production,” the World Bank said, in a statement.
The financing is being made under the “Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project,” which will support farmers in implementing innovative, climate-smart technologies, to help the Punjab government achieve economies of scale to transform the agricultural sector, the bank statement said.
The project will engage the private sector in sourcing appropriate technologies, and providing training tailored for water user associations and individual households, to improve water conservation practices and agriculture productivity, it said.
The World Bank also highlighted that the project will benefit about 190,000 small, family-owned farms and 1.4 million acres of irrigated land in rural communities in the province, adding that, it will also provide training to small- and medium-sized farm owners on water conservation and more sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural practices, including for women.– NNN-APP
