Allocation for agri sector doubled.

LAHORE -- Earmarking Rs15.50 billion, more than the double of last year's Rs7 billion, for agriculture sector this year, the Annual Development Programme (ADP) promises to continue 39 on-going schemes and launch five new ones during the next year.

Highlighting vulnerabilities of the sector, the ADP document fears that it could shrink by two to seven percent and its vulnerability is as high as 87pc because of coronavirus pandemic. Under the circumstances, the sector needs transformation, it suggests.

With the allocation of over Rs15 billion, the government plans 305 new watercourses and will also carry out lining of another 1,231 watercourses.

Similarly, it plans to rehabilitate 372 irrigation schemes in non-command areas of the province.

It would also launch 10,000 'high-efficiency' irrigation schemes, besides planting olive trees on 760 acres.

Cultivation of oil seed crops on 80,636 acres and development of another 24,890 acres is also part of the planning.

Award of matching grants to farmers cultivating 35,000 acres and provision of seed (wheat and oilseed) for over 500,000 acres also forms part of the ADP.

The Punjab government has also allocated another Rs4 billion for fighting locust and...