Govt plans to sow lentils for self-sufficiency
Not many people eat pulses on any given day and most do not eat the full serving. PHOTO: DAILYMAIL
The government's ambitious goal to cultivate pulses across 874,000 hectares this Rabi season marks a strategic move to bolster domestic self-sufficiency and protect vital foreign exchange reserves. A high-ranking official from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research disclosed the comprehensive plan, highlighting the cultivation of gram pulses on 860,000 hectares and lentils on 14,000 hectares.
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To achieve these targets, the production goals for gram and lentil varieties have been set at an impressive 419,000 tonnes. Punjab takes the lead, aiming to cultivate gram pulses on 786,000 hectares with an expected yield of 322,000 tonnes. Sindh contributes 22,000 hectares to the gram pulse initiative, anticipating a substantial 23,000-tonne yield.
Simultaneously, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces are set to cultivate gram pulses on 30,000 and 40,000 hectares, projecting yields of 15,000 tonnes and 49,000 tonnes, respectively.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2024.
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