LAHORE: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has announced a Rs 100 billion package for farmers and establishing of Punjab Kissan Commission.
The announcement was made during the Punjab Agriculture Conference 2016, organised by the provincial government. The CM said the incentives would help increase per acre yield and development of agriculture, adding that the amount would be spent during next two years.
Addressing the Punjab Agriculture Conference, Shahbaz said representatives of farmers, agriculture experts and government members should fully participate in working groups and formulate concrete proposals and recommendations in the light of which a solid agriculture policy would be designed in the first week of next month.
Shahbaz said in 1998, the PML-N government completely eliminated spurious pesticides but the heinous trade was back there when he again came into power again in 2008. He admitted that full attention was paid to livestock sector during last seven and half years but the desired results could not be achieved.
“Our farmer is working day and night but there is no increase in per acre yield,” he noted, adding that research institutions were not giving the desired input. “Increase in per acre yield is not possible without transferring modern technology and results to the farmers.”
The chief minister said the PML-N government protected interests of growers and ensured payment of Rs180 per 40 kg for sugarcane Punjab when another province (Sindh) fixed sugarcane price at Rs 160. He recalled that wheat price was fixed at Rs 900 per 40 kg in 2010 and he visited every nook and corner of the province to ensure the farmers could get the same.
He said the Rs 100 billion package would be only for agriculture development whereas work was in progress for construction and rehabilitation of roads at the cost Rs150 billion as well as potable water supply in the rural areas.
Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed, on the occasion, said new policies would have to be formulated for farmers keeping in view the changing weather pattern and international market slump.
