'New technology to help sow rice without water'

Pakistani Agricultural scientists have evolved a new variety of rice which required no water and it can be sown in Barani areas, said Provincial Secretary Agriculture Punjab Muhammad Mahmud while talking to newsmen, here on Saturday. He said that Pakistani scientists have successfully developed a technology that will help farmers sow rice without water. Talking to media he said that rice is sown with water in abundance in the field, however, the recent development would be helpful for the farming community facing water shortage problem.
"Our scientists are among the world's best and they have achieved a milestone in a short span of time," he said. The new development has put a new life in the agriculture sector, he added. Meanwhile, Agriculture department has decided to launch annual management programme with Rs 227.610 million to control fruit fly attack on mango, guava and citrus orchards. The project would cover 50,000-acre orchards area in Punjab including 20,000 acres of mango orchards, 26,500 acres of citrus orchards and 3,500-acre guava orchards.