Focus on modern research in agri varsities: minister

LAHORE:Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the government’s focus is on modern research in agricultural universities and the availability of the best human resources is being ensured for this. The aim of the government is to supply quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to the farmers to increase the yield per acre of crops.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of Crop Life (Pakistan) Association, who called on him here on Thursday. The Association’s Executive Director Rashid Ahmed, Lead for Stewardship Irfanul Haq, Lead for Biotechnology M Asim and progressive farmer Dr Zafar Hayat were also present in the meeting.

The provincial minister while appreciating the role of Crop Life Association in the agricultural sector at the global level said that the Punjab government wants to utilize the experiences of the organisation to introduce modern agricultural technology in Punjab. He said that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab has allocated a significant amount of more than 64 billion for the development of the agricultural sector in the recent budget, which is 250 percent more than the budget of 2023-24. He said under the Punjab Agriculture Transforming Programme, the Punjab govt is going to provide Chief Minister Punjab Kisan Card, provision of Pak Seeders under the Smog Control Programme, establishment of model agriculture malls, conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar system and green tractor scheme projects.

The provincial minister maintained that the government is introducing reforms in Livestock and Dairy Development Board and Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company. In the meeting, the provincial agriculture minister was briefed on behalf of the association that Crop of Life Association as a crop science industry is playing its role in introducing modern agriculture technology in 91 countries at the global level.