Govt subsidises oilseed production

In order to reduce the cost of the import of edible oil, the government has started offering a subsidy of Rs5,000 per acre on the cultivation of canola.

According to Rashid Sidhu, an official of the agriculture department, under the Prime Minister's Agricultural Emergency Programme Rs5.11 billion are being spent to encourage farmers to take up oil seed cultivation.

“The programme aims to reduce the import bill of the country by supporting local growers,” he underscored.

“Under the same initiative, the Punjab government will register farmers and provide them Rs5,000 per acre subsidy on canola cultivation through a voucher present inside a seed bag,” said Rashid Sidhu.

Sharing details about the subsidy, he added that subsidy for up to 20 acres is being provided to registered farmers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2021.