‘Agri sector being upgraded on scientific lines’

MULTAN: The agriculture sector is being upgraded on scientific lines so that it could meet contemporary challenges and help improve financial condition of the farmers.This was stated by Agriculture Information Assistant Director Naveed Asmat in a statement issued here on Sunday.

He said that the government measures, including special package of Rs 212 billion, subsidy on fertilisers, interest-free loans, promotion of certified seeds and cheap electricity for tube-wells brought good change in agriculture sector.

He said that agriculture growth rate remained 3.81 per cent this year, which was highest during the last 13 years. According to crop reporting final assessment, the Punjab produced 8,077,000 cotton bales, which were 15.70 per cent higher as compared to last year, he added. The government distributed 110,000 smart mobile phones with special applications to guide farmers through advisory, he said.

Naveed said that agriculture sector was mainstay of the country’s economy and the Punjab government was committed to improve this sector and introducing different facilities for the farmers.