Increase in yield boosts Baloch farmers' income.

Byline: Amin Ahmed

ISLAMABAD -- The Australian government, under the first phase of its 'Australia Balochistan Agribusiness (AusABBA) programme', has increased the gross value of agricultural produce in the six districts of Balochistan by over $9.1 million and helped farmers increase their household income.

According to the project document prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations which implemented the project in cooperation with Balochistan government, the initiative has helped enhance crop yields and livestock productivity in Balochistan and introduced farmers to new technologies, better ways manage their farms and increase production in addition to improving community-based water management.

The conclusion of the first phase of the project witnessed significant improvement in food and nutrition security and income of over 30,600 poor households in 340 rural communities in the province.

The Australian-funded programme covers six districts of Chaghai, Kech, Kharan, Nushki, Punjgur and Washuk.

The programme helped farmers from several adjacent communities of the districts to form farmers' marketing collectives, strengthen their linkages to the markets, and increase their sales of surplus produce.

The programme also encouraged farmers establish small local agribusiness, and a recent study has shown that the farmers' marketing collectives approach can increase farmer profits by up to 34 per cent.

Building on the success...