CS reviews initiatives in agriculture

Training of farmers, use of technology, and public-private partnership discussed

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleman Khan has said 169,845 maunds of commodities have been sold and as many as 1,685,573 consumers have benefited from them.

He expressed these views at a meeting held in the Agriculture Department on Wednesday.

The chief secretary maintained that currently 104 fruits and vegetable markets have been functioning fully in the province. He added that his department had established 32 farmers’ platforms in Model bazaars and 50 in these fruits and vegetable markets.

He reviewed different initiatives in the agriculture sector in the province including the provision of facilities and training of farmers, use of technology to enhance production and profitability of commodities, public-private partnership and internship programme for Agri graduates Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Nouman Ahmad Langrial also attended the meeting and took important decisions about improving water management and administrative affairs of fruits and vegetable markets, besides increasing production of agricultural commodities like pulses, honey, Tulsi, Saunf, Kalonji and Mushrooms.

He also issued directions regarding measures to fight locusts’ attack in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. “The help of the federal government would be sought for carrying out aerial spray in the affected area,” said the minister.

Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khursheed briefed in the meeting that initially, an internship programme has been started at a cost of Rs200 million for Agri graduates of 10 Tehsils, who would be paid a stipend of Rs35,000 each per month.

The chief secretary was informed in the meeting that projects worth Rs25 million have been finalised to enhance honey production through the use of modern technologies.

He said that a campaign against adulteration in pesticides and fertilizers is underway in the province. “4,095 raids have been conducted so far, 15 factories have been sealed and adulterated pesticides and fertilizers of worth Rs 168 million have been confiscated,” he said.

He added that cases against 624 adulterators have also been registered, besides, a fine of Rs24 million has been imposed on them.