Govt launches programme for wasteland development in Fata

Peshawar: The federal government has launched an innovative programme costing Rs 216.084 million for the sustainable development of vast plans of wastelands of Fata through appropriate technologies and practices of dry land horticulture.

Highlighting salient features of Sustainable Development Plan, Project Director Rehmat Jan said here that the program envisages establishment of dry land regular orchards of improved varieties of pistachio, almond, walnut, apricot, pomegranate, grapes and olive on 26,100 acres wasteland in Kurram, Mohmand and Khyber Agencies besides establishment of community farms on vast plains of wastelands.

So far 21,050 acres wasteland has been reclaimed and 15 community farms established at a cost of Rs 196.578 million, he added. The Project Director said that 90.36 percent area of Fata comprises mountains, rivers, streams, and culturable and non-culturable wastelands while 7.4 percent land is under cultivation.

The culturable wasteland, he said, can be developed for drought tolerant orchards and high value medicinal plants through drip irrigation. He added 47-km farm roads have been constructed, micro irrigation system on 15000-acre land, 32 irrigation/drinking water tube wells installed and 27 community dams constructed.

Work on dry land perennial medicinal plants, floriculture, horticulture and vegetables is in progress and regular orchards were established on 7500 acres in Baizai area of Mohmand Agency while an orchard of almond was established on 700 acres in Jarna, Central Kurram, he said when asked.

The drought tolerant species of fruit plants, he said, are making good progress in survival, growth, quality and productivity. He revealed that perennial drought resistant medicinal plants, floriculture and vegetables are being promoted as alternate crops for benefit of the farmers.