Kathmandu, November 15 The provincial government of Province 3 has allocated Rs 670 million this fiscal year for agriculture pockets and blocks. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry of Province 3 has allocated the aforementioned amount for 495 pocket areas and 56 blocks, including both old and new, in 13 districts. As per MoALD, the budget will be invested for establishment of new pockets and development of old pockets and blocks. Furthermore, the budget will be utilised for improvement of production and productivity of crops, fruits and vegetables in pocket areas. The budget will also include monitoring and training activities in the pockets and blocks. Meanwhile, the provincial ministry is also preparing to increase the grant amount for pockets and blocks this fiscal year. As the public has been increasingly demanding for the establishment of pocket and block areas specifically for fruits and vegetables, the provincial ministry has allocated such a huge amount for the sector, said an MoALD official. In the previous fiscal, the provincial ministry had allocated Rs 280 million for agriculture pockets and blocks. The provincial ministry plans to establish the pockets and blocks of vegetables, especially potatoes, in Makawanpur, while in Chitwan pockets and blocks of vegetables, honey bees, bananas and rice will be expanded. Likewise, in Dhading and Nuwakot, pocket areas of vegetables and maize will be expanded. Meanwhile, the provincial ministry is also preparing to declare Rasuwa, Lalitpur and Kathmandu as pocket areas of vegetables, especially potatoes. Similarly, Kavre will be declared as pocket area for cardamom and coffee, while in Sindhupalchowk, maize, vegetables and kiwi pocket areas and blocks will be expanded. Along with that in Dolakha, kiwi pocket areas will be established while pockets of vegetables and oranges will be expanded. In Sindhuli, pockets and blocks of ginger, turmeric, maize, sweet orange and vegetables will be expanded.