Agri-officials admonished over poor farm condition

Secretary for ensuring transparency in procurement process

MULTAN: Punjab Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Mahmud expressed his displeasure over poor management of government farms by the officials concerned while visiting farms of the Punjab Seed Corporation and Agriculture Research and Extension on Thursday.

Mahmud criticised the lacklustre maintenance of these farms, which reflected negligence and lack of interest on the part of officials, a statement issued by the Punjab Agriculture Department’s media liaison unit said.

“This situation has arisen despite repeated notices to get things in order and timely release of funds to follow up on the instructions and obtain the required equipment and material,” he said, adding funds were released in accordance with the financing demanded by the agricultural officials.



The agriculture secretary emphasised that things could be salvaged within a short span of time with proper utilisation of resources. He said the purpose of government-managed farms was to convert them into models for other farmers to follow and replicate.

“Establishment of model farms is only possible if officials ensure a modern irrigation system, introduction of new varieties and speedy farm mechanisation,” Mahmud said, deploring that productivity of the government farms was negligible at the moment.

He warned that those unwilling to be efficient in their duties would be removed from the department. He also instructed the officials to ensure transparency in the procurement of farm equipment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2017.

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