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IDB okays $335,000 for bio-fertilizer project

ISLAMABAD: Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has approved $335,000 of financing for a bio-fertilizer project in Pakistan.

The project titled "Use of bio-fertilizer for increasing sustainable crop production in Muslim countries and establishment of bio-fertilizer of resource centre (BIRCEN)" will be set up at National Institute for Bio-technology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad.

IDB will provide US$300,000 for purchase of equipment for BIRCEN project. Another US$35,000 will be provided for networking, publications and communication/information.

IDB board of executive directors (BED) has approved the funding for the project under its Technical Assistance (Grant) Programme.

As far as training of the scientists from other IDB member countries is concerned it would be financed under IDB's Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), says a press release.

This is a multicountry project with the objective to exploit bio-fertilizer technology for development of sustainable agriculture in Muslim countries.

The participating countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Senegal and Uzbekistan.

The project objectives will be met by strengthening the research capabilities and supporting research and development on bio-fertilizer in the participating laboratories.

In addition, large scale bio-fertilizer production technology and quality control protocols and standards will be developed. Assistance will be provided for setting up small business establishment and commercialisation of bio-fertilizers.

The project was prepared by Dr. Kauser Abdullah Malik as Principal Investigator; former director general, NIBGE and the incumbent Chairman, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC).

It was submitted for funding to IDB through OIC Ministerial Committee on Science and Technology (COMSTECH) with its headquarters here in Islamabad.

The project is one out of seven such proposals submitted by COMSTECH, received from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan (two) Senegal and Turkey.

Four out of seven projects are on application of bio-fertilizer in various Muslim countries.

The other project submitted from Pakistan is on the installation of CAD systems for development of textile industry.

In total COMSTECH has submitted 28 science and technology projects received from Islamic countries to IDB for funding.

It is a unique initiative of its kind by COMSTECH that such a large number of projects have been got prepared and submitted for financing.

During a three-day international seminar on "biotechnology for development" organised by COMSTECH here at Islamabad from January 25-27, there was consensus that a great deal of emphasis should be placed on mutual collaboration on common projects which can greatly benefit from interaction among the researchers involved.

Three other projects on bio-fertilizer have been submitted by Bangladesh, Egypt and Senegal to IDB for funding through COMSTECH.

The COMSTECH has requested Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, Chairman, PARC to contact the researchers from these Muslim countries for the development of future plans and strategy in this extremely important area of agricultural research. APP