CS reviews steps taken to improve agriculture sector

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan on Wednesday reviewed different initiatives in the agriculture sector in the province, including provision of facilities and training to farmers, use of technology to enhance production and profitability of commodities, public-private partnership and internship programme for agri graduates.

He reviewed the initiatives during a meeting held at Agriculture Department here. Provincial Minister for Agriculture Noaman Ahmad Langrial also attended the meeting that took important decisions about improving water management and administrative affairs of fruits and vegetable markets, besides the decisions to increase production of agricultural commodities like pulses, honey, tulsi, saunf, kalvanji, ispaghol and mashroom. The chief secretary (CS) directed the Agriculture Department to take concrete steps for executing the prime minister’s special package so that its benefits could reach the farmers as well as the general public. He also issued directions to the officers concerned regarding the measures to fight locusts’ attack in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. He said the help of the federal government would be sought for carrying out areal spray in the affected area.

The CS assured the provincial minister that all relevant departments would extend full cooperation to the initiatives in agriculture sector so that the government’s policy on agriculture could be implemented.

Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khursheed briefed the meeting that initially an internship programme was being started at a cost of Rs 200 million for agri graduates of 10 tehsils who would be paid a stipend of Rs 35,000 each per month. The interns would impart training to farmers about high-value agriculture and methods to enhance profitability, he added.

The CS was informed that a Rs 25 million project had been finalised to enhance honey production through use of modern technologies.

The agriculture secretary said at present 104 fruit and vegetable markets were fully functional in the province. The Agriculture Department has established 32 farmers’ platforms in Model bazaars and 50 in the fruits and vegetables markets where 169,845 maunds of commodities have been sold and as many as 1,685,573 consumers have benefited from that, the agriculture secretary said.