Soybean cultivation: NARC to assist Chakwal farmers

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to enhance oilseed production in Pakistan, the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) is to provide technical assistance to farmers in the Chakwal region, in the cultivation of soybean over 1,200 acres of land.

The council’s core objectives of undertaking the initiative are to increase the income of small landholders as well as alleviating poverty in the region.

An official of the council said that the recent campaign had been ushered in through collaboration with various international partner agencies along with development organisations.

The initiative would increase the production of edible oil, and aid in the reduction of the import bill.

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has also provided information to farmers from remote areas regarding use of modern technology, which is vital for the development of agricultural sector, he added.

The official said that the PARC would provide support to farmers in adopting new methods to increase peanut, mustard, canola, and soybean production.

Furthermore, the PARC scientists have also introduced a peanut dryer along with a grading machine- which could bring down post-harvest loss of peanut crop by 35 per cent, the official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2016.