Govt, PAD reveal agriculture programme worth Rs26bn

PAD DG says project includes promoting oilseeds besides research for improving productivity in crop sector

LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD), in collaboration with the federal government, is embarking upon an ambitious programme to promote mechanisation and seed replacement for three major crops, namely rice, wheat and sugarcane.

PAD Director General Agriculture Extension Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali revealed the programme, worth Rs26 billion, recently, while speaking to a delegation of the Agriculture Journalists Association (AJA). The DG highlighted that the project also includes promoting oilseeds besides research for improving productivity to make the crop sector profitable for public in rural areas.

He added that the programme was aimed at providing all the necessary relief and innovation to farmers to increase per acre yield, bringing down the cost of production and ensuring a suitable return to their hard work.

He continued that the country imports Rs22 billion worth seeds of vegetables, oilseeds, fodders and other minor crops and produce only wheat, cotton, sugarcane and basmati seeds locally. “The loose implementation of Seed Act 1976 is a major hurdle to provide quality seeds to farmers.

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He lamented that there was almost no implementation of Section 22H of the seed act which guaranteed the provision of certified fruit plants.

The DG explained that the adoption of certified seed was very low and farmers were not paying attention to wheat seed replacement despite the fact that it is our staple food and the biggest crop. “National projects on major crops are addressing this vital issue to supply certified seed at subsidies prices.”

Speaking on the issue of forcefully advocating the idea of promoting the seed replacement concept, he suggested that we should grow vegetables in lawns instead of flowers. “Anyone who has a house over two kanals of land should be recommended to grow food for his own consumption as s/he is occupying almost equal size of the per capita availability of cultivated land left in the province.”

He supported the idea of growing fruit-bearing trees comparable to eco-region instead of simple trees during the tree plantation campaign to target public health along with the target to end malnutrition in the country.

Throwing light on the projects, he said for wheat a comprehensive project of slightly over Rs12.5 billion has been chalked out while another project worth Rs3 billion will be shared by the farmers coming under its umbrella. “It will be a five-year plan in which 60% will be provided by the provincial government and 40% by the federal government.”’

He added that the project is designed to increase the yield and bring down the input cost. “Promotion of the sowing of certified seed and provision of wheat planters and other agricultural implements will be done.”

In rice, the PAD aimed to make paddy a profitable crop for the farmers by enhancing yield under a project worth Rs6.327 billion. It is aimed at promoting mechanization of rice farming. Similarly, there is a project worth Rs2.048 billion for sugarcane with the same objectives.

To decrease country’s dependence on import of edible oil, the department is taking up a project worth Rs5.115 billion to give subsidies to growers on sowing oilseed crops, promoting sesame, sunflower and canola.

Responding to a question, he said all the future development programmes are being devised keeping in view the climatic crisis. He also said all the programmes are being chalked out with the consultation of stakeholders such as Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and sugar millers. He further said that it would help to carry out market-oriented research. “Providing insurance coverage and ‘Kissan Cards’ to small growers is another revolutionary step taken by the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2019.