CM calls for modern farming

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Sunday called for employing modern farming technology to meet contemporary requirements.

He said this while chairing a meeting on the Agriculture Department which took policy decisions to develop the agriculture sector along modern lines, said a handout.

Provincial Minister for Agriculture Muhammad Sajad, Secretary of Agriculture Javed Marwat and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The chief minister instructed the relevant officials to take innovative measures to have maximum production with minimum cost.

He directed them to collect detailed data of the agricultural lands across the province and take steps for the cultivation of saffron on suitable lands by the upcoming season, adding that saffron crops being grown in neighboring countries should also be evaluated to have better production.

The chief minister directed that the Agriculture Department should cultivate land itself giving these agricultural lands on contracts.

However, he said farmers should also be encouraged to cultivate saffron on the land suitable for this

purpose.

Gandapur directed them to launch a wild olive grafting program in the merged districts.

He underlined the need for the construction of small artificial dams to cultivate vegetables in the districts where there was a shortage of water. The chief minister said the drip irrigation system can be introduced in such areas.