Agriculture extension is significantly lacking because the 17,000
agriculture extension workers who report to the local government units are not effectively used.
He said the
agriculture played a crucial role in the economy of Balochistan as approximately 80 per cent people were linked with this sector.
Later, the minister handed over keys of vehicles to
agriculture officers of 88 upazilas at the function.
'Counties need to collate expenditure on
agriculture so as to know the total investment in the sector by both the national and the county governments.'
Meanwhile, delegations hailing from different parts of Balochistan called on
Agriculture Minister Engineer Zamrak Khan Achakzai and apprised him problems and issues of their specific areas, besides requesting him for their early resolution.
The Speaker underlined the need to reform the
agriculture sector by investing in infrastructure, research, value chains, capacity building and enhanced access to finances and new markets.
Secretary national food security said that provinces and centre have planned to spend Rs287 billion in
agriculture sector.
The ceremony was attended by Ehsan Bhutta Special Secretary (
Agriculture), Faisal Yousuf Director General PITB (IT), Mohammad Rafiq Akhtar Director
Agriculture Information, Punjab along with other high-ups of the
Agriculture Department.
He said that the government will facilitate the farmers and will fulfill their requirements on the priority basis and added that they will have to take benefit from China's expertise in the
agriculture sector.
The Ambassador of Uzbekistan offered chief minister to establish a technical institute in Sindh which would offer specialized graduation and post-graduation degrees in
agriculture. He also offered to install a special plant to manufacture
agriculture machinery.
According to the news report a former Primer Minster of Pakistan from Baluchistan is among those who have been sent tax notices after he was apparently found making false claim of paying provincial
agriculture tax in order to claim exemption from federal income tax, according to sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).