Some 500,000 acres will be brought under wheat cultivation in Sargodha, where the wheat sowing process has started. This was noted at a meeting of the District Advisory Committee and District Task Force. Imran Jafar, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, said at the meeting that a target for wheat sowing has been set at 500,000 acres across the district.

He said the Punjab government is running many training programmes for farmers to get better yields, while competitions are also being held among farmers to grow more wheat, oil seeds and sugarcane crops.The Agriculture Department is going to start an awareness programme for farmers titled “Smart Farming” from November 1, Imran Jaffar said.

As of now, the citrus crop is good and a bumper crop is expected this year if the rains are on time and the weather remains favourable. Jafar Imran said that a campaign is going on to make farmers aware of smog, adding that cases have so far been registered against three farmers for burning crop residues, while a fine of Rs200,000 has also been imposed on the violators.

He said this month 139 fertiliser samples were obtained, out of which nine samples were found unfit, and a First Information Report was registered against the accused dealers. Addressing the meeting, ADC Headquarters Arshad Ahmed Wattoo said that special measures

are being adopted by the government for agricultural reforms to ensure the availability of agricultural commodities at fixed prices in time of need and to develop agriculture on modern lines.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk