Awareness-raising seminar arranged for farmers

BARA: The Khyber Agriculture Department in collaboration with Tirah Mushroom Agriculture Development Organisation arranged an awareness-raising seminar here on Wednesday.

Dr Bakhtiar Khan, special secretary Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was the chief guest.Director General of Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Jan Muhammad Khan, that of merged districts Murad Ali Khan, Shad Muhammad, Chief of Economic Recovery Development Authority (ERDA) of USAID, Zia Islam Dawar, district director of Agriculture, Aqeel Shah, deputy director of Agriculture in merged areas, and others were present on the occasion.

A number of local farmers associated with the agriculture sector were present at the awareness seminar.The local and Tirah farmers and organizers had set up various stalls, including locally produced sunflower oil, honey, country ghee, jaggery, stalls of olives, walnuts, and various locally produced vegetables were set up. The organisers said that ERDA, which started in 2022, would continue in the merged area until 2027, and had set three goals under this project.

They added that the farmers would be made aware of modern methods of agriculture, including making agriculture compatible with modern requirements.The other is medium and small entrepreneur development to facilitate small entrepreneurs at the neighborhood and village level to expand their businesses.

They maintained that the third project related to policy reform with the government as the work was in progress because only eight percent of the area was cultivable in these areas.

The organisers said work was being done on contract farming and attracting new businesses and promoting small businesses at the regional level, including helping to access large markets.

Special Secretary of Agriculture Extension Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Bakhtiar Khan said the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and especially newly merged districts were taking practical steps for the development of agriculture and providing better facilities to the farmers.

“The cultivation of seeds, vegetables, fruit and fast food are noteworthy, while practical steps have been taken to provide modern machinery to the farmers,” he said, adding the Agriculture Department along with other welfare organizations were also organising various training sessions for the farmers.