US to finance around $ 40 mln for agri development in Pakistan : Gondal

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal said on Thursday that agricultural development projects worth around 40 million Dollar have been approved under Pakistan-US  Strategic Dialogue.The Minister, who is part of a high-powered delegation that attended Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue in Washington, said that the working group approved allocations for various agricultural projects, including nine million dollars for wheat production and rust disease prevention, nine million dollars for cotton production and disease prevention, nine million dollars for prevention of food and disease in livestock and some other programmes.
He told a news channel that this was the third or fourth meeting with main focus on increasing wheat and cotton production and controlling their diseases in Pakistan.Nazar Gondal said the projects would also be financed under Kerry-Lugar Bill and USAid and their implementation is expected to start from next month.He said the meeting also discussed strengthening of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and utilization of already allocated grants. Flood situation in Pakistan was also discussed in detail.  – App