Our Correspondent

Tarbela Ghazi: The registration process for farmers and cultivators under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Security Support Project (KPFSSP) has commenced in Ghazi. Registered farmers will receive subsidies for cultivating wheat and other crops. The registration process will continue until June this year, with a target to register 1.9 million farmers across the province. Farmers ranging from small-scale kitchen gardeners to large landholders can apply for registration.

A formal ceremony to launch the registration process was held yesterday at the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Office in Ghazi, presided over by Agriculture Officer Aftab Ahmad Shah. The event was attended by KPFSSP representative Muhammad Bilal Khan Mohmand, Field Assistants Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan and Zafar Iqbal Khan, as well as local farmers, cultivators, village council chairpersons, farmer councilors, and media representatives.

In his opening remarks, Agriculture Officer Aftab Ahmad Shah introduced the Food Security Support Project and highlighted its significance. He also issued key directives to ensure the effectiveness of the initiative.

KPFSSP representative Muhammad Bilal Khan Mohmand emphasized that the primary objective of the project is to enhance food security in the province. He stated that the initiative is crucial not only for the province but for the entire country’s food security. The five-year project, supported by the Asian Development Bank and Japan, has already implemented various agricultural measures in flood-affected districts, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat, Malakand, Upper Dir, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Today’s registration drive is part of future planning. Under the program, registered farmers will receive subsidies for the cultivation of wheat and other crops. The registration process will also include door-to-door visits, and online registration options are available as well. Additionally, a comprehensive database of farmers will be developed to enhance institutional capacity. Women will be provided training and equipment for kitchen gardening and food processing.

The ceremony concluded with a Q&A session, during which Agriculture Officer Aftab Ahmad Shah and KPFSSP representative Muhammad Bilal Khan Mohmand addressed various queries raised by farmers.