Wheat maximisation drive: PCPA to help Punjab start programme in 2,500 villages

Chairman of Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) Engr Javed Saleem Qureshi has said that 52 member companies of the PCPA will initiate the Wheat Maximisation Programme in 2,500 villages with the support of Punjab government.
He said that companies would transfer technology to farmers to increase the production of wheat by at least 10 maunds per acre. Talking to Business Recorder on Tuesday, Qureshi said that the member companies of the PCPA would provide and supervise the implementation of wheat sowing technology in the fields.
He said that companies would guide the farmers in selecting the right seed, seed treatment, use of balance fertiliser and proper spray of wheat herbicide. Qureshi further said that together with the extension staff of the Punjab government, it would give additional wheat of one million tonnes to farmers than they had produced last year.
He said that initially a programme would start in 100 villages of Sindh, which, if the Sindh government took interest, could be extended to 1,000 villages. Javed Qureshi said: "I have the technology to increase the production of wheat, rice, cotton, corn and sugarcane. "If the Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and Federal governments also take interest, then we can overcome the food crisis and can also earn the foreign exchange through export of these agriculture products," He said.
He said in India about 80 percent farming was done on barani lands, whereas in Pakistan the situation was vice versa. He suggested upon the private sector to join hands with the government to utilise the thousands of acres land in barani areas for agriculture.
"We have latest technology and good quality seeds, which could yield a notable amount of production," he said. He also called upon the importers and distributors to provide their services to farmers on the fields - from the preparation of land to the harvesting of the crops. He appealed to the print and electronic media to play their role by providing on time information and guidelines to farmers so that the farmers could prosper.