'Government determined to ameliorate plight of poor farmers'

The government is determined to ameliorate the plight of poor farmers, and has taken concrete and solid steps for increasing agricultural production. This was stated by Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Punjab Minister for Agriculture, in the meeting of annual research planning programme 2009 of the Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad on Tuesday.
The minister said that many facilities were being provided by the government to the farmers, and added that farm machinery, including tractors and other implement, were being provided to the farmers on subsidised rates.
He said that the campaign of the government to control adulteration in agricultural inputs like fertilisers and pesticides had contributed significantly in eradicating the menace, and for the first time in the history of the country strict action under the law had been taken against influential and unscrupulous elements. The efficiency of Agriculture Department had been enhanced with the introduction of checks and balances, and punishment and reward system.
The minister asked the agricultural scientists to extend helping hand to the government by conducting research, which could surpass theoretical approach and contribute practically in solving numerous problems faced by farming community.
Dr Muhammad Rashid, DGA (Research), AARI, Faisalabad, said that new approach had been adopted by the institute in planning annual research programmes of the institute and devising annual research priorities.
He said that participation of all stakeholders comprising agricultural scientists, farmers, representatives of other research institutions and agricultural universities from all over the country and private sector was fully ensured to finalise research programme. The new system and participation of all stakeholders in planning research programme had contributed significantly in improving the quality of agricultural research.
The new approach has promoted demand-driven research for solving problems faced by the farming community. Highlighting the performance and achievements of AARI, Faisalabad he said that the institute had developed 373 varieties of crops, fruits and vegetables which are grown on 90 percent of the area of the country, and added that popularity of these varieties has amply demonstrated the importance and performance of the institute.
He said that 71 varieties of wheat, 19 varieties of rice, 44 varieties of cotton, 20 varieties of sugarcane, 23 of pulses, 18 of maize, 61 of vegetables, 18 of edible oils, 19 varieties of fodder and 90 varieties of food had been developed by AARI, Faisalabad.
He said that AARI scientists had developed two advance lines of Bt cotton, which possesses yield potential up to 5.8 tons/acre, beside higher fibre quality. Cotton hybrids C27 and C26, developed by the institute, could bring major breakthrough in cotton production, he said. New sugarcane variety CPF-246 gave record production along with 11.95 percent sugar recovery.
Development work on 16 maize hybrids is in progress which possesses higher yield potential as compared with hybrid developed by multinationals. Sunflower hybrids FH-259, FH-331 and Hysun-33, developed by AARI scientists, possess yield potential up to 3100 kg/ha, which is higher than foreign hybrids.
A musk melon variety 'Ravi', developed by the institute could revolutionise melon production due to higher yield potential, he said. AARI scientists are developing varieties which would give higher production with minimum input use as the paucity of financial resources is major constraint in promotion of judicious and balanced use of these inputs.