Agriculture sector priority: minister

LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture Syed Hussain Jahanian Gardezi has said to further reduce effects of toxins on rice crop, Farmer’s Day at village level should be organised.

The minister has expressed these views while addressing a seminar organised by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. To create awareness among the farmers about the pre-harvest interval spray on paddy, Lahore Chamber of Commerce, Pesticides Industry, in association with Punjab Agriculture Department, should organise Farmer's Day at village level, he said, adding Pakistan is the fourth largest rice producing country in the world.

During the financial year 2020-21, 4.19 million tons of rice was exported, which has generated 2.04 billion dollars in foreign exchange, the minister said. Addressing the seminar, the minister said that the agriculture sector was one of the top priorities of his government.

Under Prime Minister's Agricultural Emergency Programme, various schemes are being implemented with Rs300 billion to increase the production per acre of wheat, sugarcane, oilseeds and improve the water courses. Among these projects National Programme for enhancing rice production is also on going with Rs6.32 billion. Under this programme, training programmes organised by Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku to guide farmers to reduce indiscriminate spraying of pesticides on paddy crop, he said. Apart from this, for inspection of paddy cultivators, samples of the paddy crop are taken through a laboratory set up at a cost of Rs61 million in this institute and the pesticides are tested on it, the minister said and added that this laboratory can be helpful for Rice Exporters Association and other stakeholders in testing the paddy samples.

paintings exhibition: Provincial Minister for Culture Khayal Ahmed Kastro inaugurated an exhibition of paintings by talented artist Amna Waqas in Gulberg Lahore on Wednesday.

Talking on this occasion, Provincial Minister for Culture appreciated the efforts being done to promote art in any form. “Our bright and diligent artists are working hard to make us proud. My department is trying to pave ways to promote art and culture in every domain,” he said. Artist Amna also described different features of her paintings.