LAHORE - Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) recently completed Rs 31.0 million date-palm protection project with matching-grant support of Rs 15.5 million. This was the first time in the history of the country that such a project was implemented at the macro level to cater to the needs of date-palm growers covering all the major date-palm producing regions of Pakistan. The project was initiated in June 2010 wherein over 300,000 Tyvek bags were distributed to the date-palm growers and training programs were organized in Good Agri Practices. With the assistance of local Associations, NGOs and Rural Support Programs, the project was successfully implemented in Khairpur & Sukkar (Sindh), Muzaffar Garh (Punjab), D. I. Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Turbat & Punjgoor (Balochistan). Tyvek bag is a paper like material and a product of Dupont USA, which has proved to be very successful in date producing countries. It saves the produce from rain, dust, insects and birds, which are harmful for the crop and can have a detrimental impact on the livelihood of growers.