Dated: 07.7.2008.

KARACHI JULY 07: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah today attended presentation about Sindh Agriculture Department at Chief Minister House. Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Sindh Agriculture Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi, Secretary to Chief Minister Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, Project Director, National Programme for lining of Water Courses, and other attended the presentation.
Chief Minister Sindh outlined in his remarks that the Agriculture is backbone economy of any country, and it is endeavour of present government to provide all incentives to agriculture sector aimed at to increase production of agriculture commodities and essential food items. He said that due to global changes, the crisis of food commodities are emerging in many countries but Pakistan being agriculture country, will fully handle the situation and increase the production of food commodities essential of people.
Sindh Agriculture Secretary Mr. Sabhago Khan Jatoi in his presentation informed that 62% of geographical area of Sindh is Arid, comprising of Thar, Nara and Kohistan, besides a large area under coastal belt (350 k.m) and Katcha area. Giving details, he said that there is total area of 14.09 million hectares, which include 5.76 million hectare cultivated area; 6.27 million hectare un-cultivated area, 0.69 million hectare forest area while 1.37 million hectare is cultureable waste. Mr. Jatoi added that the one-fourth of total output (GDP) and 44% total employment is generated by Agriculture sector while 67.5% of the country population living in rural areas is directly and indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood.
He further said that the Sindh province produces 32% of rice in national production, 24% for sugarcane production, 12% in cotton production while produces 21% for wheat production. Secretary Agriculture highlighting activities of department, said that the department was efforting for modernization of agriculture research, advancement of mechanized agriculture, strong market informed system, improved agriculture, extension service, water management and other aspects. He said that despite resource constraints, in sufficient technical manpower, and inadequate inputs including irrigation water; the province of Sindh has not legged behind other provinces in Yields per hectare, while in almost all major crops, the yield is either higher or very near to more developed province of Punjab, which has proportionately more resources. He informed the department was allocated budget grant (Non dev) of Rs.948.089 million in the year 2007-08. He also apprised the Chief Minister Sindh about objectives of Agriculture Extension, Agriculture Marketing, Agriculture Research, varieties evolved wheat, Agriculture Engineering & Water Management, and progress of Water Courses, etc. Mr. Jatoi informed that new Sabzi Mandi is being established at Northern bypass Karachi, New Sabzi Mandi @ Gaghar Phatak Karachi and New Sabzi Mandi at Qasimabad Hyderabad. It was also decided that new Sabzi Mandi will be revised & established at Larkana and Mirpurkhas.

HANDOUT NO… (ABM).