January 5, 2011

Over 95% wheat sowing target achieved in Punjab, Pakistan

The Punjab Agriculture Department has so far successfully achieved 95% wheat sowing against a total target of 16.89 million acres of land in the province.

Agriculture Minister Punjab Ahmad Ali Aulakh said that overall an area of 16 million acres of land had so far been brought under wheat cultivation in rain fed zone of Rawalpindi division, rice mixed zone, cotton zone and other areas of the 35 districts of province.

He said Jhelum, Khushab, Bhakkar, Jhang, T.T Singh, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Multan, Khanewal, Layyah, DG Khan and Bahawalpur districts would definitely surpass the 100% target while other districts except Chakwal and Attock, had achieved of 86% target.

He said for the first time in the country's history, some farmers were being granted on the spot loans on easy terms under one window operation. The minister said that a subsidy of billions of rupees was given to the growers for the purchase of the agriculture implement.

Ahmad Ali Aulakh said on the special directive of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, fertilizers (Phosphorus and Nitrogenous) essential for wheat sowing had been made available to all farmers. He hoped that production target would be met through proper crop management and plant protection.

Under the plant protection programme, Aulakh said that seeds were treated before sowing and steps were also taken at Tahsil level to check adulteration. He added that plant protection measures were being taken according to the pest and disease situation by adopting integrated pest management approach.

He said efforts were also being made to bring as much as possible cultivable waste land lying in different parts of the province especially the Riverine areas for increasing wheat production through horizontal expansion of acreage.

When contacted Agriculture Secretary, Arif Nadeem said that availability of canal water for irrigation was another important factor for timely sowing of wheat, proper tillage and application of fertilisers.