September 19, 2023

Focus on the promotion of the agricultural sector: Minister

LAHORE: Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said the government is paying special attention to expanding the agricultural sector and that agricultural production will be increased through mechanization. He was chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Friday. The meeting reviewed measures to improve the agricultural sector in the province, wheat planting targets, prices and availability of fertilizers. Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Federal National Secretary for Food Security Tahir Khursheed, Provincial Secretaries of Agriculture and Food Departments, President of PITB and relevant officers attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Fakhar Imam said that innovation is being brought in the field of agriculture using technology and that the production of wheat, rice, cotton and other crops has increased this year thanks to effective measures taken by the government.

The chief secretary said 97 percent of the wheat planting target had been reached in Punjab. He said large stocks of wheat were available in the province, adding that fertilizer prices were under control and its supply had also improved. The meeting was informed that in accordance with the Prime Minister’s vision, the government of Punjab had issued Farmers Cards to provide a direct subsidy to producers and through this initiative a subsidy of several billion rupees per year would be granted. to over one million registered farmers.