Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan embarks on a Rs400 million project to rehabilitate farmers
LAHORE, Nov 03, (SABAH): The Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan has embarked on a project worth PKR 400 million to uplift 5 thousand flood-torn small family farmers, owning less than five acres of land in flood-hit areas across Pakistan in the first phase. Ahead of the sowing time of Rabi crops, President Alkhidmat Muhammad Abdus Shakoor inaugurated the ‘Alkhidmat Farmer Rehabilitation Project’ in Taunsa, distributing Agri inputs, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to 100 flood-affected farmers during a ceremony held in the badly hit tehsil of District Dera Ghazi Khan South Punjab.
Apart from massive level destruction, flooding has also plunged thousands of farmers, leaving millions of affectees at the brink of starvation, and debt trap eventually leading to malnourishment at the national level.
Following the rescue and relief work in flood-hit areas across Pakistan, AlKhidmat Foundation has been carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction projects across the country. Under the Alkhidmat Farmer Rehabilitation Project, the eligible farmers are being provided with free Agri inputs, seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers worth PKR 80,000.
This program has been carried out for the flood affectees of South Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The scope of the project will be expanded in these areas as the water recedes from the affected areas. Under Alkhidmat Farmer Rehabilitation Project, Alkhidmat aims to save the farmers from hunger and poverty as well as to control malnutrition at the national level, said Muhammad Abdus Shakoor. Modern technology, professional training, and assistance from agricultural companies will help reduce the gap between farm fields and markets, he added.
Alkhidmat has joined professional agricultural organizations and development partners in order to train farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity. Alkhidmat local teams and agricultural companies had jointly identified the eligible farmers and land after surveying the flood-affected areas. Flood-affected farmers have been formed into a cluster of 25 to 100 farmers. Alkhidmat partner agricultural companies will assist in order to train and guide these farmers. The agricultural company’s team will be in constant touch with the farmers at all stages from seed sowing to harvesting.
Alkhidmat, agricultural companies, and farmers present on the occasion expressed hopes to achieve the best yield in the upcoming wheat crop, being supplied with the best seeds and fertilizers as well as proper guidance by the agro experts.
AlKhidmat Foundation South Punjab Secretary Ahmed Amar Yasir, AlKhidmat Foundation Taunsa Sharif President Rashid Athar, a large number of local dignitaries and agro experts participated in the ceremony.