This project, sponsored by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock, was launched
in July, 2008 for implementation in 26 districts nationwide. The project particularly
focuses at a) increasing agricultural productivity b) augmenting food security through
sustainable livelihood programmes c) reducing poverty levels through expanded farm
and non-farm activities d) empowering small farmers through the establishment of
self-managed VOs backed by appropriate laws and regulations that would enable them
to manage their resources efficiently and e) building sustainable financial mechanisms
to channel small farmers own resources as well as external investment into the small
farmers agricultural sub-sector. Implementation of the social mobilization component
of this project (i.e. formation of Farmer Associations (FAs) and Cooperative Village
Organizations (CVOs)) has been undertaken by RSPN in partnership with 6 member RSPs
under a contract with MINFAL. PRSP has been subcontracted the implementation of
this component in 358 villages of Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Gujranwala and
Sialkot districts as identified by MINFAL. This intervention has been planned for
four years (from 2008 to 2012) at a total of cost of Rs.118.202 million. For implementation
purposes, a Project Support Unit (PSU) has been set up in Lahore by PRSP along with
10 Social Mobilization Units (SMUs) (2 in each project district) in 2008. The Regional
General Managers and District Managers are responsible for supervising the SMUs
that overlook the formation of FAs, VOs and assist in the VOs’ registration as CVOs.
The SMUs are also responsible for the provision of CMST and Revolving Fund Management
Training (RFMT) to the FAs and CVOs. In addition, the Programme also monitors the
revolving fund of each CVO.
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