Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo has said that all available resources are being mobilised to achieve the provincial target of producing 5.5 million cotton bales this season.
Chairing a meeting at the MNS Agriculture University on Saturday, he said cotton had been sown on 3.2 million acres in Punjab, and through a special campaign, early sowing on 850,000 acres had been achieved.
According to the secretary, cotton picking equivalent to 800,000 bales has been completed and field reports suggest that the crop condition is "highly satisfactory".
He directed cotton inspectors to keep accurate records of seed cotton and processed bales at ginning factories, adding that female labourers would be trained for clean cotton picking. "At this crucial stage, any negligence in guiding farmers will not be tolerated," he stressed.
Sahoo said scientists have been tasked with developing climate-smart and mechanically harvestable cotton varieties.
He announced that an attractive package is being introduced for the upcoming wheat crop, while an interest-free loan facility worth Rs30 million is being offered to promote high-tech agricultural machinery. He said 2,000 newly graduated students will begin field activities next month.
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