LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed has said that the provincial government has increased budget of agriculture research up to 200 per cent to enhance agriculture produce in the province.
He was addressing the winners of Wheat Yield Competition 2014 relating to Punjab and Lahore division at Agriculture House. Dr Farrukh Javed said, “Our agriculture scientists have achieved a landmark success of developing drought tolerant crop varities.”
Ali Tahir Secretary Agriculture Punjab and large number of agriculture scientists were also present on the occasion.
The minister for Agriculture highlighted the various steps taken by the government for the benefit of farming community. He said that wheat support price had been enhanced up to Rs1300 per maund and the government has fixed sugarcane rates Rs180 per maund whereas in Sindh province, the rate of sugarcane is Rs150 per maund.
The minister stressed the need for narrowing gap between progressive and ordinary growers. “Progressive growers are obtaining wheat yield up to 80 maunds per acre whereas average yield is 30 maunds per acre”, the minister added. He appreciated the efforts of agricultural scientists for increasing agriculture produce in Punjab Province and stated that record produce of potato and wheat has been obtained whereas cotton yield has exceeded 10 million bales. Similarly, rice yield has also been increased tremendously, the minister said.
Punjab Agriculture Secretary Ali Tahir in his welcome address informed that the Punjab government had distributed prizes up to Rs130 million among winners of wheat yield competition 2014.
He told that the winners have been selected in the most transparent manner. He said that wheat yield competition will encourage farmers to grow more wheat and provide healthy competitive environment.
Dr Anjum Ali Director General Agriculture (Ext.) Punjab in his address said that in Punjab province record produce of 1.97 million tons of wheat has been obtained. The Punjab government has initiated new projects to increase produce vegetables and pulses and under these projects subsidy will be provided to pulses and vegetables growers.
The minister distributed tractors and other prizes among the winners. Allah Buksh son of Muhammad Yar district Khushab got first prize of 85 HP tractor by obtaining 98.78 maund per acre wheat production.
Waseem Abbas district Muzaffargarh obtained second prize of 75HP tractor by obtaining 84.21 maunds per acre wheat produce. Muhammad Husanain Khalid district Rahim Yar Khan obtained third prize of 75 HP tractor by obtaining 80.52 maund per acre wheat yield.
As many as 542 prizes of different type of farm machinery have been distributed among winners of Wheat Yield Competition 2014 in Punjab province.
