Pakistan: Wheat sowing area rises in Punjab
Punjab has completed 51% of its wheat cultivation target, with sown area increasing 7.7% year-on-year, Agriculture Department officials told Minister Ashiq Kirmani. Certified seed usage reached 44%. The briefing also reviewed farmer loans under the Kissan Card scheme and tractor distribution through the Green Tractor Programme.
LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department claims to have achieved more than 50 per cent of the province’s wheat cultivation target so far, while the area has also increased by 7.7pc compared with the corresponding period of last year.
During a briefing to Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani on Friday, the officials claimed that so far 51pc of the total cultivated area had been sown through line sowing, while the use of certified seed stood at 44pc.
The minister directed that field formations must actively support farmers throughout the wheat cultivation campaign to ensure the prescribed targets are achieved. He stressed that quality seeds and fertilisers must be available to farmers at notified prices.
The meeting also reviewed paddy harvesting, measures to prevent crop residue burning and initiatives under the smog control programme.
The meeting was informed that under the fifth phase of the Kissan Card scheme, agricultural loans worth Rs100 billion have been approved for one million farmers. Of these, 818,000 farmers have already been provided with credit facilities, while loans amounting to Rs26bn have been utilised.
Under the fourth phase of the Green Tractor Programme, 1,840 tractors have been distributed, while 9,500 locally manufactured and imported tractors will be provided in the fifth phase.
A total of 305,000 applications had been received, out of which verification of 188,000 applications has been completed.
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Source : Dawn
