Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has introduced a special historic reward package for the wheat farmers, under which 1,000 tractors worth billions of rupees would be given for cultivating wheat on 25 acres and more area while on 12.5 to 25 acres of wheat cultivation 1,000 laser land leveler would be provided to farmers through a transparent balloting. Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani shared this information while presiding over the wheat cultivation meeting at the Commissioner's Office, Lahore. While giving a briefing, the minister was told that this year, the target of wheat cultivation in Lahore division has been set at 133,000 acres and to achieving it all resources and means are being used. Facilitation is being provided to the farmers as per wheat action plan. Special teams are monitoring with the support of district administration for supply of quality fertilizers, seeds and pesticides in the market.

Mega farmer gathering and exhibition plots are being prepared to guide the farmers. Regular meetings of divisional and district committees are being held. Apart from this, linkages with Agriculture and Irrigation Department have been further improved to ensure water supply for wheat crop. An effective awareness campaign through print, electronic and social media is also ongoing. The provincial minister for Agriculture said that this year, the target of wheat cultivation in Punjab province has been set at 1crore and 65 acres, the achievement of which is indispensable for the country's food security. According to this, the achievement of the target of wheat cultivation in all the districts of the province will be ensured in any case. In this regard, the young agricultural graduates recruited under the Chief Minister Punjab Internship Programme have also been assigned special responsibilities to guide the farmers.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan