FAISALABAD - Japanese NGO Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO) is investing in the development of district Muzaffargarh by promoting highly values crop among small farming community to alleviate poverty as most of farming community was having less than one acre of land and living in extreme poverty. This was stated by NGO country representative Juri Murakami while talking to University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan here on Thursday. She said that her organization started functioning in Pakistan two years ago following the floods devastation. She said that at the outset, they started rescue work and rehabilitation in the flood hit districts to bring normalcy to the lives of affected people. In the second phase of the project, she said that they begun the development of the areas by investing in giving awareness to the masses besides providing fertilizer and other implements aimed at increasing the income of the locals with the help of modern trends. She said that initially, they were focusing on Moringa, lemon grass and other crops to earn heavy foreign exchange for the locals as well as for the country.
They discussed the avenue for collaboration to work together for the noble cause. Institute of Horticulture Director Amjad Aulak and other notable scientists from the university were also present on the occasion who gave their suggestion to promote the productivity and increase the per acre production of the area. UAF VC Dr Iqrar said that it was matter of grave concerns that in Multan and Muzarffargh, the wastage of fertilizer by dumping the fields (over dozing) was largest across the country. He stressed the need for curb the trends by giving awareness to the masses so that they can save money with the use of balanced fertilizer.
He said that with the help of Turkey, the UAF is conducting a survey of extremely low income people to provide 500 best breed goats to hundreds families in the district. He said that at the times of floods, university provided best seed to the farmers of Athari Hazari, Jhang, in order to cultivate the crops in the flood hit area. Besides, the university also provided them with agricultural inputs and implements. The campus community also gave the school bags to the people.
The VC assured the delegation of the UAF scientists full support for development with the increase income of the farmers that would redress the grievances of the farming community.