Exotic date palm varieties to be introduced: minister

FAISALABAD: Provincial Minister for Cooperatives Mehr Muhammad Aslam Bharwana Friday said the government had taken an initiative to introduce premium quality exotic date palm varieties to yield maximum dates to strengthen the national economy.

He was distributing tissue culture date palm varieties to farmers of south Punjab at New Senate Hall of Agriculture University. Secretary Cooperative Punjab Mansoor Qadir, VC UAF Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa, Director Horticulture Prof Amanullah, farmers and students were also present.

On the occasion, the minister said cooperative department had imported date varieties from UK and UAE and after initial nursing at the Institute of Horticultural Science of UAF, plants were being distributed among growers. He appreciated the vulnerable support of Agricultural University to promote the project of exotic tissue culture date palm.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had focused special attention on agriculture sector and prosperity of the farmers was the prime agenda of the government.

He said Green Pakistan and Clean & Green Punjab programme were being implemented successfully and farmers also participated in these programs.

The secretary cooperative said under this initiative the plants of elite date varieties Ajwa, Anbarah, Khalas, Barhi, Medjael and Ghanami were distributing among farmers. He said growers would contribute half of the suckers of these plants which would again be distributed among other growers by the cooperative department.

He said this project would continue in phase programme. The VC UAF said date palm was an important fruit crop of the country and distribution of tissue culture date palm plants among the growers was a remarkable project of the government.

anti-dengue awareness: A two-day anti-dengue awareness programme was launched to sensitise the citizens about dengue larvae spread on Friday.

In this regard an awareness walk was held under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sardar Saifullah Dogar.

CEO District Health Authority Dr Mushtaq Sipra, DHO Dr Asif Shahzad, District Coordinator Epidemics Dr Bilal Ahmad, Dr Wasim Akram, other doctors, Lady Health Workers and representatives of civil society also participated in the walk.

The walk started from District Council Chowk and culminated at Katcheri Bazaar Chowk after passing through Khaleeq Qureshi Road. The participants were carrying banners and placards inscribed the precautionary measures against dengue.

On the occasion, the DC said dengue was a common problem that required a collective approach to combat it. He said all possible efforts were being made for the eradication of dengue. He directed anti-dengue teams to continue their efforts against eradication of dengue with more passion and commitment during this season.

The DC also distributed pamphlets among shopkeepers about precautionary measures against dengue. Earlier a seminar was organized by District Health Authority in DHO office in which large number of citizen participated. CEO DHA Dr Mushtaq Sipra said war against dengue will continue until its complete eradication.

District Coordinator Epidemics Dr Bilal Ahmad said during the current season preventive measures were utmost necessary. He said indoor and outdoor door surveillance were also being carried out regularly.

Later, fishes were also released in clean water ponds to eliminate dengue larva. Divisional Commissioner Mehmood Javed Bhatti and Deputy Commissioner Sardar Saif Ullah Dogar released the “Telapia” and "Gross Corp" fishes in a pond situated at Hostels of Faisalabad Medical University.

AD Fisheries Department M Shahid and other officers of different departments were present on the occasion.

The commissioner said due to danger of dengue larva hatcheries such kind of fishes were releasing in the clean water ponds and fisheries department had been given a task in this regard. He said that work of dengue surveillance expedited with a view to recent temperature and all departments concerned have to vigilant to cope with dengue issue and perform their duties efficiently.

He said that no negligence or laxity will be tolerated regarding the implementation of the plan evolved for checking dengue larva.

The DC said besides the activities of district administration against dengue larva, public at large to remain more vigilant for stopping the dengue breading. He directed that the water tanks of Wasa and ponds of dirty water should also be checked daily and made biochemical treatment there for eradication dengue larva.

The district coordinator said experience of releasing fishes in water to eliminate dengue larva had been proved successful.

Wheat procurement: The Food Department has finalised all arrangements for starting wheat procurement campaign in the division.

Deputy Director Food Khalid Javed said that distribution of gunny bags (bardana) will start from April 22. As many as 83,578 applications from growers had so far been received for bardana.

During the first two weeks of procurement campaign, 60 per cent bardana against total demand will be given to the farmers while remaining 40 per cent will be given to the farmers after two weeks, he added.