As many as 4.5 million acres of land would be brought under paddy crop during 2004 in various rice growing areas of Punjab.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that in Sialkot district, paddy would be cultivated over 0.465 million acres of land.
In order to attain the fixed target of paddy crop the agriculture department has prepared a farmers training programme in the province.
Under the programme the rice growers would be imparted latest modern techniques for getting better acreage and maintaining the quality of rice.
In Sialkot district, the agriculture department had initiated the similar farmers training programme in 1,455 villages.
According to the sources, the sowing of paddy nurseries would be started from May 20 in Sialkot district, adding the staff of the agriculture department was busy in providing adequate guidance and assistance to the paddy growers in Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur tehsils of the district.
The sources said special attention would be accorded to enhance per acre of yield by exploiting the modern agricultural techniques to attain the fixed target in the district.
The agriculture department has directed the rice growers and cultivators that they should only use recommended and authenticated paddy seed for obtaining quality crop of paddy in Punjab, they added.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Seed Corporation had already provided 3,000 bags of Supper Basmati and Basmati-385 in Sialkot district.
These 20-kg bags could be obtained from the recommended dealers in different areas of Sialkot district, the sources said.