An amount of Rs 24.18 million has been approved for Chief Minister, Punjab's initiative of kitchen gardening in urban areas of Punjab. Gestation period of the project is two years and it will be executed through Agri Extension Wing, Vegetable Research Institute, Floriculture and Directorate of Agricultural Information.
This was stated by Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Minister for Agriculture, Punjab while chairing a progress review meeting on Chief Minister Punjab's Kitchen Gardening Programme. Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh directed that all efforts should be made to achieve physical targets in time for the availability of cheap and pesticide free organic vegetables for people.
He further said that annual consumption of vegetables in Pakistan is only 50 Kg per person, whereas it is 105 Kg per person in the world. Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Arif Nadeem, said that 168 master trainers from Agriculture Department and NGOs have been trained about Kitchen Gardening activities who are now engaged in training of local trainers at District, Tehsil and markaz level.
He further said that training sessions for farmers and local community will be arranged from 1st August and sale of vegetable seed kits will be started from 15th August, which will continue up to October. Director General Agri. (Research) Dr Noor-ul-Islam, told the chair that arrangements for preparation of seed kits have been completed and 50,000 seed kits prepared from public sector will be handed over to Extension Wing during the next week.
He further said that purchase of seeds from private sector is in process. Director General Agri. (Extension) Dr Anjum Ali, briefed about road map and action plan for sale of seed kits. Minister for Agriculture directed to prepare time bound schedule for sale/distribution of seed kits upto Tehsil level throughout the province.
Salman Rafiq, Member Provincial Assembly, Arif Nadeem Secretary Agriculture, Chaudhry Shaukat Ali, Syed Tahir Aziz Additional Secretary Information, Dr Noor-ul-Islam Director General Agri. (Research), Dr Anjam Ali Director General Agri. (Extension), Asif Khan Project Director Fruits and Vegetables, M Rafiq Akhtar Director Agricultural Information also attended the meeting.
Comments
Comments are closed.