ISLAMABAD: The federal government is providing Rs.6 billion from the Federal PSDP to the provincial governments for implementing Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (DERA) Programme for the year, said spokesman, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Dr. Muhammad Hanif Saturday.
Talking to newsmen, he said that the government had launched Rs.7 billion drought mitigation program with the assistance of donor agencies under the name of Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (DERA) last year.
He said that the programme is under implementation by the Planning and Development Division.
"The Provincial Governments are involved and activities are designed and executed in 85 drought-hit districts by the respective district governments.
Each district with the support of provincial authorities has prepared schemes on irrigation, on farm water management, drinkable water supplies, construction of farm roads and other areas to support the agriculture and livestock activities".
Briefing regarding the water situation, the spokesman said that the effects of drought are far more pronounced on the water supply in Rabi season than in Kharif.
The normal water supply in rabi is 35.4 MAF.
During this season, the actual water supply in 2000-01 was 21.4 MAF.
This shows a reduction of 40% in water supply from the normal.
The water supply further reduced to 18.4 MAF during 2001-02, which is less by 48% from the normal, he said.
"Despite this situation due to the government efforts, a major catastrophe in crop production was averted.
The production of cotton this year is estimated 10.9 million bales against 10.7 million bales last year.
The sugarcane production is 48.0 million tons resulting in sugar production of 3.2 million tons against 2.46 million tons last year.
The production of wheat is somewhat shorter than last year, being 18.5 million tons against 19 million tons last year.
The main reason for this shortfall in wheat production is short supply of 3 MAF water in rabi this year".
The spokesman said that during last year Pakistan exported 1.7 million tons of wheat and there was a growing demand for the commodity this year.
The stocks of wheat have already reached 7.7 million tons, which is higher than last year by 28%, he said.
Pakistan is self sufficient in sugar and a large number of other commodities and we will in coming year continue to be member of the wheat-exporting club, he said.