Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Ahmad Ali Aulakh, has asked the agricultural experts to come forward with their suggestions, which could be helpful to upgrade and modernise agricultural sector to meet present requirements to achieve self-sufficiency in the sector and also enhance foreign exchange through exporting our agricultural products.
He expressed these views while addressing the meeting of Agriculturists here on Monday. The minister said, 'Pakistan is an agricultural country and our farmers are very hard working but they are facing many problems due to lack of knowledge about technological advancement and non-availability of sufficient water and fertilisers.'
Moreover, he said that adulteration in pesticides and selling of sub-standard medicines have not been checked properly consequently the agriculture sector has been suffering.
He said that sufficient stocks of DAP are present and a comprehensive plan has been evolved for providing agriculture implements on concessionary rates to the farmers. He said that those involved in adulteration of fertilisers and agri-medicines will be dealt with iron hands.
Former advisor on agriculture, Chaudhry Sultan Ali, former DG's Agriculture, progressive farmers also attended the meeting and highlighted problems regarding agriculture.