Govt pushes cotton revival in Sargodha

SARGODHA:

Commissioner Jehanzaib Awan on Monday called for coordinated and effective inter-departmental efforts to meet the cotton cultivation targets set for Sargodha Division under the Punjab government's agricultural revival initiative.

Chairing a meeting of the Divisional Cotton Management and Monitoring Committee, the commissioner underscored that the revival and development of the cotton crop is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Khushab, as well as officials from the Agriculture Department, heads of farmer organisations, and representatives of related institutions.

Director Agriculture Shahid Hussain briefed the meeting and informed that the division has been given a target to cultivate cotton on 160,000 acres during the current season.

Of this, Mianwali has the largest share with 115,000 acres, followed by Bhakkar (34,000 acres), Sargodha (8,000 acres), and Khushab (3,000 acres).

He stressed that May is the optimal month for cotton sowing and urged that farmers be actively encouraged to take advantage of this window.

Shahid said the Agriculture Department, revenue officials, water management bodies, pest control units, and local representatives must all play an active role.