Punjab to ensure water availability for cotton sowing, says secy

LAHORE: Provincial Agriculture Department has taken steps for ensuring water availability for cotton plantation. In liaison with Irrigation Department, the schedule for water supply in canals can also be amended keeping in view the sowing of cotton in different areas, said Iftikhar Ali Sahu, Secretary Agriculture here Tuesday.

He added that representation and involvement of farmers in various coordination committees should be ensured. The department has also been in constant contact with the federal government for the supply of fertilizer in abundance in the Kharif season. Awareness seminars for cotton should be organised at division, district and tehsil levels, Iftikhar Ali Sahu said.

The active participation of growers in the awareness seminars should be ensured. Agriculture Secretary while reviewing cotton crop status, asked the divisional commissioners and district deputy commissioners to fully engage with the agriculture department in the ongoing cotton campaign. For this purpose, meetings of Divisional Committees under the chairmanship of Commissioners should be held regularly. Deputy Directors organise meetings of district committees under the chairmanship of the respective Deputy Commissioners. Public representatives should also be invited in the meeting of Divisional and District Committees.

Miscellaneous duties of all the officers and personnel of the Agriculture Department have been completely abolished. Above all, he observed, issues regarding supply of seeds, fertilizers and water should be identified in the division and district level committees and taken up authorities concerned, he maintained.

Farmers should be guided to cultivate cotton as soon as the land becomes vacant as a result of wheat crop harvesting and field activities should be continued even during Eid holidays, concluded Iftikhar Ali Sahu.