ISLAMABAD: The World Bank approved $171 million for the support of agricultural productivity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by improving irrigation, strengthening small farmers’ skills and supporting farmers in adding value to their products.
According to a World Bank statement, the farmers in K-P face challenges of low water-use efficiency and lack of modern technology, skills and knowledge for engaging in high-value agriculture value chains. This results in an underdeveloped rural economy with high vulnerability to climate changes.
The K-P Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project will help address these challenges by rehabilitating community watercourses, establishing water users’ associations, introducing high-efficiency irrigation systems and laser land levelling, strengthening farmers’ technical skills and filling knowledge gaps on agricultural market opportunities and constraints.
“Agriculture accounts for a fifth of Pakistan’s economy and employs nearly half the labour force in the country,” said World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu.
“This project will boost the rural economy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by benefiting millions of small farmers to diversify crops, improve productivity and increase household incomes.”
