Cooperative veg farming to be subsidised

CM announces off-season cultivation of tomatoes, onions

LAHORE:

Vegetable farmer groups of five to 10 growers will be provided subsidy on seeds, fertilisers, drip irrigation and solarisation, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced while chairing a meeting to review recommendations for transforming agriculture in the province.

"By launching a project for the cultivation of onion and tomato on 2,000 acres, their local availability will be ensured," she said.

The chief minister said that due to off-season cultivation, there would be no artificial inflation as locally produced onion and tomato would be available in Punjab for six months a year.

She was informed that the off-season tomato cultivation plan would be launched in Kahror Pacca, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari and Rajanpur.

The onion cultivation has been planned in Khushab, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Jhelum. The chief minister approved a plan to launch agricultural machinery rental services across Punjab for farmers. Under the plan, tractors, harvesters and other modern agricultural machinery will be available on rent to farmers on a no-profit, no-loss basis.

A joint working group was formed in the meeting for the selection of 67 locations and agricultural machinery for the scheme.

The chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to ensure sowing of wheat on government land.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari and Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani attended the meeting. Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Zafar Dal, the secretaries of agriculture, finance and energy, and other relevant officers were also present.

Meanwhile, despite stability in the official prices of essential perishable commodities this week, the consumers did not benefit due to continuous violations of the rate lists by shopkeepers and street vendors.

The district administration urged the public to report instances of overcharging, but the enforcement appears lacking and acknowledgment of the widespread non-compliance inadequate.

Across the city, the official rate list was largely ignored and products like milk, curd, meat, grains and pulses continued to be sold at significantly higher prices.

The price of live chicken was raised by just Re1 per kilogram on the official list to Rs397-411, but the consumers paid up to Rs490, while poultry meat, officially priced at Rs595, was sold at over Rs660 in different areas of the metropolis. The potato prices of the A-grade, sugar-free variety rose by Rs2, fixed at Rs75-80 per kg, but consumers were charged Rs140-150 per kg. The lower qualities listed at Rs55-70 per kg were sold for Rs100 to Rs120.

The official onion price for the top variety was reduced by Rs11 per kg to Rs116-124, but sold at up to Rs200.

The price of tomatoes surged with the A-grade variety gaining Rs35 per kg to Rs112-120, but sold for Rs220-240.

The B-grade and C-grade tomatoes were sold at Rs150-180 per kg in the markets.

Garlic, ginger and cucumbers were also sold well above their fixed rates. The price of locally produced garlic remained officially unchanged at Rs370-385 but consumers paid Rs500-600 per kg.