‘Agri transformation plan being implemented as per CM’s vision’

LAHORE:Punjab Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani has said that the agricultural transformation plan in the province is being implemented under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

As part of the Chief Minister’s smog control programme, farmers are being provided 5,000 super seeders.The minister said these super seeders were being given to farmers at 60 per cent subsidy. The use of these machines had not only reduced incidents of crop residue burning but also improving fertility of land, he added.

Ashiq Kirmani said the super seeders help in handling the rice crop stubble and prepare land for wheat cultivation, adding that the machines save both labour and time of farmers. The agriculture minister said that super seeders provided by the Punjab government on subsidy were being actively used on thousands of acres on daily basis and farmers were not only using these machines themselves but also renting them out to facilitate other farmers.

Meanwhile, action has been taken against fertilizer dealers involved in selling fertilizers at high rates.A spokesman for the agriculture department said on Sunday that action was taken as per the direction of Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani.

He said that action was taken in various districts with an objective to ensure provision of fertilizers to farmers at reasonable rate. During the last two days, raids were conducted in Okara, Mandi Bahauddin, Dipalpur, Narowal and Chichawatni, during which five cases were registered, four dealers were arrested besides sealing four shops, he said and added that a fine of Rs40,000 was imposed on dealers.The minister said that zero tolerance policy was being implemented against dealers selling fertilizers at high prices and elements exploiting farmers.