LAHORE: Provincial Agriculture Minister Naeem Akhtar Khan Bhabha said the Punjab government had launched projects worth Rs 2.25 billion to promote the modern system of irrigation and technology suitable for weather conditions.
He said the ongoing projects including Drip/Sprinkle irrigation system, upon which, the government was providing 60 percent subsidy, installation of tunnel on which 50 percent subsidy was being provided while 80 percent subsidy for running drip irrigation system on solar system.
Naeem Akhtar Khan Bhabha said that from fiscal year 2016-17 to uptil now, drip irrigation system had been installed on more than 11000 acres of land, tunnel farming on more than 350 acres of land, whereas on an area of more than 1500 acres drip/sprinkle irrigation system for solar system had been installed.
“Water is very essential for the growth of crops and the government in real sense making sincere efforts to facilitate farmers in boosting the yield of different crops”, he added. The minister further said the Punjab government had given historic package worth billions of rupees for the development of agriculture sector and prosperity of the farmers and each penny of the package was being spent on the welfare of farmers efficiently.
Under the agriculture package, farmers were being given relief at their doorsteps. On the other hand, interest free loans amounting to billions of rupees were being provided to small farmers on easy terms.
The Minister further said that growers must get maximum benefit of the subsidy on the cultivation of Canola which was of Rs 5000 on per acre of land.
“These revolutionary initiatives of the government which were started in the larger interest of farmers community helped in motivating growers and as a result they were working with more passion”, he added.
