Subsidy in solarising farm tube-wells announced

NA panel apprised of difficulties facing agricultural sector due to climate change, other issues

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Food Security, which met here with Rao Ajmal Khan in the chair, has been informed that a subsidy has been announced for cotton growers to convert agricultural tube wells to solar energy.

The meeting was attended by its members, including Shaukat Ali, Murtaza Iqbal, Ibrahim Khan, Ahmad Raza, Shahnaz Saleem, Javed Ali Shah and Ayaz Ali Shah, National Food Security Minister Fakhar Imam and other senior officials of the ministry.

Briefing the committee on the steps taken by the ministry to increase the cotton production in the country, the officials said that steps were being taken to identify cotton cultivable areas in Potohar region.

The meeting was informed that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was providing agricultural loans for agricultural research projects and seed companies on the pattern of the Kamyab Jawan programme and the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme.

The committee was also apprised of the difficulties facing the agricultural sector due to climate change, new crop ecological zones and lack of agricultural technology and quality seeds.