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IDB approves $ 335,000 grant for bio-fertilizer project

ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Development Bank has approved a grant of $335,000 for setting up a Bio-Fertilizer Resource Centre (BIRCEN), official sources said here on Friday.

The Bircen to be established at the National Institute for Bio Technology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad is a project of Comstech.

The objective of the project is to identify constraints to the utilisation of bio-fertilizer technology as applied to the cropping systems prevalent in Pakistan.

It will also plan out research on both basic and applied aspects to overcome these constraints.

In addition, strategies will be developed for using all the already available information for field application of Bio-fertilizer technology.

The Bircen will facilitate dissemination of this technology by up scaling its production and conducting demonstration trials on the farmers field and by organizing outreach activities.

This Technology can in future be incorporated into cropping and farming systems of not only Pakistan but of the region as well, the officials said. APP