RAWALPINDI: : Cultivation of Steva plant will help boost agriculture economy and improve living standard of the farmers community, said Project Director and Scientist working at Ayub Agriculture and Research Institute Faisalabad (AARI) Hafiz M Akram.
Addressing the participants at Kissan Mela held at Murree, he said, Stevia is a complete substitute of sugar and carries huge medical importance.
Stevia tablets are being made from the leaves of the tree which is being used as sugar substitute in tea and preparing bakery items.
It has more than 53 percent Carbohydrates and more than 13 percent proteins which is useful for human bones especially for women and children.
It has been successfully cultivated in various Punjab areas and currently more than 200 farmers are engaged in its cultivation, he said. Farmers can earn Rs. 800,000 per acre from stevia cultivation.
