MINFAL, RSPN ink agreement for crop maximization
By Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD—The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and livestock (MINFAL) here on Thursday signed Rs.428 million contract with the Rural Support Programs Network (RSPN) for implementing Social Mobilization Component of the “Special Program for Food Security and Productivity Enhancement of Small Farmers in 1,012 Villages-Corps Maximization Project (CMP-II)”.
This contract was inked by Dr. Masood A.Rana, National Project Director, CMP-II, MINFAL and Ms. Shandana H. Khan, CEO RSPN, in the presence of Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Secretary MINFAL and Shoaib Sultan Khan, Chairman RSPN.
The CMP-II Project will reach 1,012 villages in 26 districts across thefour provinces, AJK, FANA and FATA with a purpose to ensure adequate food supply through increased production of food and cash crops.
It would also help create employment, sustainable livelihood and generateincome resources besides increasing access to food.
The Project’s outreach will be increased to 13,000 villages by 2015-16 ina phased program as part of the Mid Term Development Framework (MTDF) of the Government of Pakistan.
Social mobilization is the centerpiece of the CMP-II project, as farmersin the garget villages will be organized into Farmers Associations and Village Organizations (VOs), which will work with the CMP-II Project Staff and the Agriculture Department to undertake the Project activities.
RSPN will implement the CMP-II Social Mobilization Component over a period of four years, staring from April 2008, in partnership with its six member RSPs, including the Agha Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP), National Rural Support Program (NRSP), Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP), Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) and the Sindh Rural Support Program (SRSO).
He said the ALP was set up with an aim to promote and support research activities in agricultural sector in accordance with Pakistan’s long-term development goals and promote scientific cooperation between the US and Pakistan.