Wheat Yield Competition-2014: Punjab government distributes prizes among winners

Punjab Government has increased budget of agriculture research up to 200 per cent and Punjab's agriculture scientists have achieved a land mark of developing drought tolerant crop verities. This was stated by Dr Farrukh Javed Minister for Agriculture Punjab at Agriculture House Lahore while addressing the winners of Wheat Yield Competition 2014 relating to Punjab and Lahore division. Ali Tahir Secretary Agriculture Punjab and large number of agriculture scientists were also present on the occasion.
Minister for Agriculture highlighted various steps taken by the provincial government for the benefit of farming community. He said that wheat support price has been enhanced up to Rs 1300 per maund and the government has fixed the sugarcane rates at Rs 180 per maund; whereas in Sindh province the rate of sugarcane is Rs 150 per maund. The Minister stressed the need for narrowing gap among progressive and ordinary growers. Progressive growers are obtaining wheat yield up to 80 maunds per acre whereas average yield are 30 maunds per acre he added.
He appreciated efforts of agricultural scientists for increasing agriculture production in Punjab Province and stated that record production of potato and wheat has been obtained whereas cotton production has exceeded 10 million bales. Similarly production of rice has also been increased tremendously.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Ali Tahir in his welcome address informed that Punjab government has distributed prizes of 130 million rupees among winners of wheat yield competition 2014. He said that the winners have been selected in the most transparent manner. He was of the view that wheat yield competition will encourage farmers to grow more wheat and provide healthy competitive environment.
Director General Agriculture (Ext.) Punjab Dr Anjum Ali speaking on this occasion said that in Punjab province record production of 1.97 million tons of wheat has been obtained. Punjab government has initiated new projects to increase production of vegetables and pulses and under these projects subsidy will be provided to pulses and vegetables growers.
The minister distributed tractors and other prizes among the winners. Allah Buksh son of Muhammad Yar district Khushab got first prize of 85-HP tractor by obtaining 98.78 maunds per acre wheat production. Waseem Abbas district Muzaffargarh obtained second prize of 75 -HP tractor by obtaining 84.21 maunds per acre wheat production. Muhammad Husanain Khalid district Rahim Yar Khan obtained third prize of 75 -HP tractor by obtaining 80.52 maunds per acre wheat production. 542 prizes of different type of farm machinery have been distributed among winners of Wheat Yield Competition 2014 in Punjab province.