‘Punjab wants to benefit from US expertise in increasing cotton yield’

LAHORE:Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, met with US Consul General Kristin K Hawkins here.

They engaged in discussions on agricultural mechanisation, modern technology, GMO seeds, anti-smog measures, pesticides and the Fertilizer Act. Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo was also present.

The minister expressed Punjab’s desire to benefit from US expertise, particularly to increase cotton and soybean yields. He appreciated US financial support under USAID for Punjab’s agricultural projects. Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, the Punjab government is focusing on agricultural development, with major initiatives under way. The minister highlighted the ongoing ‘Transforming Punjab Agriculture Programme,’ a substantial project worth Rs400 billion, which has provided interest-free loans worth Rs150 billion through the Kisan Card this year. For sustainable smog control, the government has taken timely steps, including providing super seeders to farmers on a 60/40 subsidy while 5,000 super seeders have been approved, and farmers are being educated on their usage, with penalties and FIRs registered for violations. The government will soon launch a rental service programme through which modern agricultural machinery will be available to farmers at subsidised rates.

The minister further shared plans to establish Agri Malls in each district of Punjab, where quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides will be available to farmers on subsidy, along with the option to rent machinery. Additionally, the Punjab government is providing 9,500 tractors to farmers with a subsidy of Rs1 million per tractor, and efforts are under way to convert farmers’ electric tube-wells to solar energy. These initiatives aim to reduce production costs and boost per-acre yield for farmers. The minister also revealed plans to establish a state-of-the-art laboratory in Lahore for testing fertilizer and pesticide samples.

Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo reiterated that agriculture remains a top priority for the Punjab government. He noted that the government is actively engaging with industry stakeholders on amendments to the Pesticides and Fertilizer Acts, which will soon be passed by the Punjab Assembly with mutual consultation. The meeting was attended by Punjab Agriculture Department Consultant Muhammad Anjum Ali and Director General Agricultural Information Punjab, Naveed Asmat Kahloon.