FAISALABAD: The scientists have introduced 28 fodder varieties to boost milk and meat production, said Dr Qamar Shakeel, recently appointed Chief Scientist at the Biotechnology Department of the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Faisalabad.
Addressing a meeting at AARI, he said that supply of nutritious fodder round the year was imperative for increasing milk and meat production. In this connection, the agri scientists were striving day and night to develop new fodder varieties, he said and added that the Fodder Research Department had so far introduced 28 new fodder varieties, including Berseem, Alfalfa, Sorghum, Bajra and Maize, which were playing a pivotal role to enhance livestock nutrition and productivity.
He highlighted the importance of high-yielding fodder varieties and said that limited awareness among the farmers about advanced fodder varieties and modern farming techniques was a major challenge in ensuring sufficient green fodder availability.
He urged the officials of the Punjab Agriculture Extension Department to actively promote the new fodder varieties such as Lucerne, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Guar, Mott Grass, Road Grass, Napier Grass and Jantar, etc. These varieties could significantly boost per acre fodder yield if the farmers would ensure proper soil selection and fertilization according to expert recommendations, he added.
Dr Shakeel said the Punjab government provided subsidies for mechanical cutters and modern agricultural machinery. This initiative would help Pakistan increase its milk and meat production to compete with developed countries, he added. He advised the farmers to adopt modern production technology if they wanted to increase their crop production and mitigate their financial constraints. The abundant supply of nutrient-rich fodder would not only meet domestic dairy and meat demands, but also enhance exports and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth, he added.
Seven of a family injured as house catches fire: Seven people, including women and children, suffered burn injuries when a fire erupted in a home at a village on Jhang Road here on Sunday.
According to Rescue 1122, a woman was cooking food on a gas stove when a fire erupted in the kitchen due to gas leakage at Chak 66/JB. As a result, seven people suffered burn injuries. They included Kalsoom (50), Fahmida w/o Abdul Sattar, (37), Muhammad Ali s/o Qasim, (2), Qasim s/o Akbar Ali (40), Amna d/o Akbar Ali (25), Shamim w/o Akbar Ali (55) and Arfa w/o Azam (26). All the injured were shifted to the burn unit of the Allied Hospital.
FAISALABAD: Madina Town police claimed to have arrested three alleged dacoits. According to a police report here Sunday, the accused, identified as Ali Hamza, Samar and Suneel, were held from Ghousia Chowk. The police recovered illicit weapons, a motorcycle and cellphones from them. A case has been registered against the accused and an investigation is under way.
Meanwhile, unidentified thieves stole gold ornaments, cash and other items from the house of Manthar Hussain at Chak 214/RB in Sadr police limits. The police have registered a case.
CTO advises motorists to get driving licence: Chief Traffic Officer Farhan Aslam has urged the citizens to get their licences as driving without a licence is illegal.Reviewing the ongoing drive of the traffic police here Sunday, the CTO said that traffic police had launched campaigns and citizens should benefit from them.