LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi Tuesday said that target for wheat cultivation in Punjab province has been set at 16.7 million acres this year and the government is taking all necessary steps to achieve this target.
The Minister expressed these views while addressing a seminar organized for awareness of wheat farmers in Sheikhupura district.
“Government is taking steps to ensure food security at the national level. He said that the farmers are being instructed to act on the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture, use of nutritious fertilizers and certified seeds to maximize the yield of wheat,” he added.
He said the increase in wheat production is the need of the hour which can be increased through hard work, attention and modern production technology.
“Wheat crop was cultivated on 513,000 acres in Sheikhupura which yielded 681,000 metric tons during last year. I hope that this year more area will be brought under wheat cultivation in Sheikhupura district,” he adde.
Gardezi said that this year, one million bags of approved varieties of wheat are being provided at a subsidy of Rs. 1200 per bag and a total of 10 million acres of approved varieties of wheat are being sown. he said a Farmers’ Day is also being organized.
He further said that the National Program for Increasing Wheat Production per Acre with a significant amount of Rs. 12.59 is being implemented and under this program, more than Rs. one billion in modern agricultural machinery and other agricultural inputs are being provided on subsidy.
“All the subsidies are being transferred directly to the farmers ‘accounts in the form of cash transfers. Provincial agriculture minister appealed to the farmers to complete the registration of farmers’ cards as soon as possible so they could get the subsidy,” he added.
Director General Agriculture (Extension) Dr. Muhammad Anjum Ali, Director Agriculture (Extension) Lahore Division Sher Muhammad Sharawat, Representatives of Private Fertilizer Company and a  large number of local agriculture department officials, farmers and media representatives attended.
