Use of certified wheat seed up by more than 2pc

LAHORE: Use of certified wheat seed for the current sowing season has increased by over 25 percent leading the hopes to achieve a good yield. Similarly, keeping in view the sowing trend, it is expected that it will surpass the target of 16.5 million acres set for the current season.

Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo claimed this while presiding over a review meeting regarding wheat cultivation held in Multan today.

He highlighted the critical importance of wheat for national food security and stated that the cultivation target for Punjab has been fixed at 16.5 million acres. He further said that during the current season, wheat will be cultivated on an area exceeding the set target.

Certified wheat seed is available in the market at the rate of Rs 5500 per bag, and the use of certified seed has increased by more than 25percent compared to previous years. Fertilizers are also available in sufficient quantity at prices below the official rates.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfaraz Hussain Magasi, Vice Chancellor MNS Agricultural University Prof Dr Asif Ali, Director Generals Agriculture Punjab Abdul Hameed and Naveed Asmat Kahloon along with other officers while Director General Crop Reporting Service Dr. Abdul Qayyum, Directors and Deputy Directors of Agriculture Extension joined the meeting online.

The Secretary Agriculture Punjab further stated that an adequate supply of canal water for wheat sowing has been ensured. Under the Kisan Card initiative, interest-free loans worth over Rs 100 billion have been disbursed to more than 700,000 farmers so far.

On the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab, wheat production competitions are being organized at provincial and district levels. The winning farmers at both levels will receive tractors and cash prizes worth millions of rupees. He also acknowledged the significant role of agricultural university students and internees in the wheat cultivation drive.