RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Fatima Benish Sahi, Additional Secretary Agriculture Task Force, Punjab said on Saturday that cotton growing has started throughout Punjab and department is striving hard to achieve target of cotton sowing on an area of six million acre.

Cotton growers are advised to sow cotton seed of approved varieties and department has announced approved varieties for cotton cultivation.

She further said that due to hard work of department and government initiatives cotton production increased up to 14% during financial year 2017-18 as compare to 2015-16.

She was speaking at a seminar arranged by the provincial agriculture department and was attended by former speaker National Assembly Fakkhar Imam, Vice Chancellor Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University Prof Dr Asif Ali, Director General Agriculture (Ext&AR) Syed Zafaryaab Haider, Director General Agriculture (Research) Dr Abid Mehmood, Director Cotton Dr Sageer and large gathering of farmers.

Additional secretary agriculture Punjab further said that department is acting on zero tolerance policy against adulterated pesticides and fake fertilizer sales.

She was of the view that cotton bumper crop during this financial year is top priority of Punjab government because whole economy depends on its high production.

She disclosed that provincial government is also devising “2025 Cotton Mission” plan. For immediate relief of cotton growers, government is providing approved varieties of cotton seed up to 50% subsidized rate and also providing subsidy voucher at Rs 700 per cotton bag to core area of cotton growers.

Over Rs 14 million is being spent for provision of agricultural machinery to cotton growers. To save cotton crop against Pink Bollworm attack, Rs 96.2 million spent on PB Ropes that was installed on 50 districts of Punjab on 50 acre blocks.

What is more, Punjab government provided 110,000 smart phones to the farmers equipped with special applications through which extension services are being provided to cotton growers and other crops.

For cotton high yield seed production Rs 350.889 million is being spent on “Commissioned Research Programme”.

For White fly control, Government of Punjab is spending Rs 39.612 million to provide genetic modified varieties of cotton crop. In nut shell, Punjab government is taking many measures to boost up cotton production and save cotton industry. Fatima also disclosed that this year, cotton demand in international market is high. What is need, to sow cotton before 31st May 2018 and get profit.