“With its huge untapped potential, Balochistan – Pakistan’s largest province – awaits the much-needed agricultural revolution to remodel its barren lands into lush inexperienced fields,” Dost Muhammad Barrech, Analysis Affiliate on the Institute of Strategic Research Islamabad (ISSI), informed WealthPK.
“With the intention to attain sustainability, self-sufficiency, and agricultural splendour, the federal government must develop its imaginative and prescient whereas taking into consideration the potential of the province,” he mentioned.
“Encompassing 47% of Pakistan’s landmass, Balochistan boasts roughly 3.83 million hectares of land obtainable for cultivation, with 3.22 million hectares already below cultivation. The province’s diverse local weather and topography create a positive surroundings for rising a variety of crops, together with wheat, rice, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, and fruits reminiscent of grapes, cherries, almonds, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, and dates. Moreover, the province’s distinctive local weather permits the manufacturing of a various array of greens all year long,” he mentioned.
“Making Balochistan an agricultural hub stays a dream of the native folks for many years. Nevertheless, lately, tasks like Gwadar Port, Financial Zones, highway infrastructure, and general growth of the province have kindled hopes that days will not be far off when the province may also be self-reliant to feed its populace,” he added.
Secretary Common of Balochistan Zamindar Motion Committee Haji Abdul Rahman Bazai mentioned, “For many years, Balochistan’s agricultural potential remained largely untapped, hindered by a number of challenges. One of many major obstacles was comparatively decrease precipitation in comparison with different provinces, resulting in a scarcity of a well-established mechanized irrigation system and underutilization of water sources. The necessity for a extra environment friendly irrigation infrastructure was evident to unlock the province’s true agricultural prowess.”
“The Balochistan authorities is striving to irrigate the barren land and make the province self-sufficient within the manufacturing of assorted meals grains. On this connection, 100 new small test dams are being constructed in Quetta and its adjoining areas at a price of Rs1 billion. Equally, dams are additionally being constructed in Gwadar, Kharan, Kech, Awaran, Panjgur, and Khuzdar districts to irrigate hundreds of acres of land,” he added.