October 2, 2006

Pakistan's government to give a US$200 million boost to agriculture

Pakistan's government has provided Rs12.30 billion (US$203 million) to subsidise the cost of fertilizers, including the purchase of nearly 100,000 tonnes fertiliser for spring, Federal Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan said Sunday (Oct 1).

Fertiliser companies would announce price reductions soon and thereafter, the various levels of government would ensure low rates through price control magistrates.

A meat development board and 2,500 model livestock farms would also be established with collaboration from the private sector and a 15-percent share in the cost of medical treatment to cattle would be borne by the government.

In addition, the agriculture minister said the agriculture ministry had introduced four new wheat varieties expected to boost production and noted that the time for the nation's scientists to introduce new varieties has been halved to three years instead of the previous six.