By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
ISLAMABAD: United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer Wednesday jointly celebrated the completion of a joint project with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which benefited agriculture-related citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A statement issued by the US embassy said that US Embassy Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Lori Antolinez, Food and agriculture-related citizens in Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative Florence Rolle and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Special Secretary of Agriculture Department Janat Gul to celebrate the successful completion of a dollars 477,876 projects to benefit the citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It said that the project developed state-of-the-art training manuals and supported 350 farmers—including 80 women—on improved alternative agricultural technologies.Around 16 persons were provided master training from the Agriculture Extension Department from Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur and Torghar districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. DCM Schofer reflected on the partnerships between the US Government, FAO and the KP government.
He said “This project has achieved promising results in terms of crop productivity enhancement and increased incomes, while also strengthening the relevant institutions which will continue to help farmers by providing them essential support for the production and marketing of their crops.” The Agriculture Training Centers will impart skills and training in alternative crop production technologies, which promote sustainable economic growth and eliminate community dependency on illicit crop production, he said.
Florence Rolle said the FAO partnership with the US government and the KP Agriculture Department has been instrumental in generating best practices for the development of alternative livelihoods in the region. Over the past four decades, he said, the US government through INL has invested more than dollars 01 billion to improve citizens’ security and enhance law enforcement capacity across Pakistan.
He added that INL works in more than 90 countries to help combat crime and corruption counter the narcotics trade, improve police institutions and advance fair and accountable court systems.
