Farmers urged to use Chinese agri technologies
PHOTO: AGENCIES
Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik urged the farmers to use ultra-modern Chinese agricultural technologies for getting bumper crop production to make Pakistan self-sufficient in food.
He said cultivators must acquaint themselves with new technologies like mechanised direct-seeded rice (DSR) which saved sufficient quantum of water by 50 percent and labour ranges from 13-37 percent. He said DSR is technically and economically feasible, eco-friendly alternative to conventional puddled transplanted rice. He said the development of new rice varieties for direct seeding along with proper management practices can help in adoption of DSR.
He said seed priming technology can help to get rid of the problem of poor establishment of crop. Pakistan is among the top 10 producers of rice in the world and contribute around eight percent to the world rice trade. He feared that non-availability of the timely supply of water and power will affect the target set by the federal committee on agriculture.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2022.