Affecting farm output, aggravating urban problems: rural people migration to cities a real challenge: Minister

Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed has said that the massive migration of rural population towards cities was a real challenge that was not only affecting the agricultural production but also aggravating the urban problems and causing slums. He called on University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at the VC's Chamber.
The minister said that the Punjab government was taking all possible measures to curb the massive migration. He said that in the current financial year, the Punjab government was spending Rs 15 billion for uplift of the sector right from the field to markets. He said the provincial government has mapped out a plan to increase the spending upto Rs 50 billion on the agriculture sector to address food security issue and problems of the farming community. He said that the farm sector was facing complex challenges including low agricultural productivity, high cost of inputs and water and climate changes issues. He stressed upon joint efforts on the part of scientists, the government and other stakeholders for the agricultural uplift in the country.
He asked the university to convene a meeting of all stakeholders on the cotton to find out a best variety for increasing per acre yield at par with China. He also reviewed the security arrangements of the university. The UAF Vice Chancellor said disease-free varieties need to be promoted in the country. He was of the view that cotton varieties having the resistant against Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) was the way to boost up the cotton production. He said that food insecurity was hitting around 60 percent of the population.
He said the Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security worth 30 million US dollars sponsored by USAID had been established at the UAF. The centre is focused on climate changes, biotechnology, precision agriculture and policy researches.