Under Prime Minister's agriculture emergency programme, Punjab Agriculture department has initiated a five-year National Oilseed Enhancement Programme costing more than Rs 5.11 billion for the promotion of oilseed crops cultivation like sunflower, canola and sesame in 15 districts of the Punjab, revealed Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) Dr Iftikhar Ahmed Warriach.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday, he said that under the plan special attention would be accorded on enhancing the acreage from 45,000 to one lakh acres in 15 districts of the province. The National Oilseed Enhancement Programme was being carried out in Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalnager, Okara, Raganpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Mianwali, Leyyah, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Vehari, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal districts of the Punjab he disclosed,
Dr Iftikhar said the steps had been taken for revamping and dissemination of latest production technologies of oilseeds to the farmers of these districts. The basic concept of the programme was to make country self-sufficient in oilseeds production for reducing import bills and it would lead towards promoting crop diversification shifting from traditional cropping pattern to high value crops, he added.
He pointed out that promotion of oilseed cultivation in these districts by providing support to registered oilseed farmers. Under the programme, he said efforts would be made for ensuring availability of quality and high yielding oilseeds hybrids in the market through oilseed suppliers.
Keeping in view the importance of edible crops the Agriculture department was making strenuous efforts to motivating the growers that they should cultivate oilseed crops in their fields and gets maximum economic benefits and help in enhancing the production of edible oil he said.
It may be added that Pakistan is the fourth largest importer of edible oils in the world and its per capita consumption is 18kg per annum. Under the National Oilseed Enhancement programme efforts would be made for making three potential oilseed crops like canola, sesame and sunflower comparable with other cash crops.
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