MULTAN City News

Bosan for promotion of smart agriculture

Says Rs 54,932m to be distributed among provinces

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: The government has planned spending Rs 54,932 million for the uplift of agriculture sector, said Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan.

Addressing a high-level meeting here on Wednesday, he said the massive allocation would be distributed among all the four provinces and projects in this regard would be launched soon. He said projects would be initiated in livestock, water resources, climate change, fish farming and other sectors. He said all the projects had been designed to give a boost to small growers as they were estimated over 93 per cent of the farming community. The small growers would be strengthened at grass roots level, he added.

The federal minister said the agriculture had become a provincial subject after the 18th Amendment and the role of all provinces was vital for collective uplift and progress of the sector. He said the federal government was in contact with the provincial governments to provide them guidance and technical expertise for the promotion of agriculture sector. He said the promotion of smart agriculture was need of the hour.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed said the Punjab was contributing 70 per cent share in the country’s overall agriculture production and the provincial government was taking all measures for the uplift of agriculture sector. He said the Punjab government had allocated Rs 100 billion additional for the uplift of agriculture in the province. The allocated amount would be spent on the uplift of agriculture, livestock, irrigation, forestry and fisheries, he added.

The provincial minister said the small growers had crossed over 8 million. He underlined the need for measures to increase small growers’ per acre production. He stressed federal and provincial governments for taking steps to introduce the most modern agriculture technology, ensure certified seed and varieties that increase per acre production. He stressed the improvement of farm-to-market infrastructure to increase farmers’ income.

Agriculture experts also presented their presentations on agriculture sector. Senior agriculture officials were also present on the occasion.