Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Muhammad Javed Iqbal Awan has called upon the field officers of the Agriculture Department to ensure sowing of wheat crop 2008-09 on 80 percent of the target area till November 30, 2008. He also directed them to spend most of their duty hours in the field, contact farmers and inform them about latest agricultural recommendations aimed at enhancing per acre wheat yield.
He was presiding over a meeting to review progress on wheat sowing in Pakpattan, Sahiwal and Okara districts. The meeting was informed that 85 percent of the target area for sowing wheat has been achieved in Pakpattan, 60 percent in Sahiwal and 55 percent in Okara districts. The meeting also reviewed performance of seed graders and laser land levelling sets in these three districts besides progress of sowing on demonstration plots. Officers claimed that there was no issue of shortage of fertilisers in Sahiwal district.
However, attention of the Secretary was drawn towards problems being faced by farmers due to sale of paddy and cotton on lower rates. Javed Iqbal Awan stated that the government had fixed a target of wheat production at 20 million tons and has announced an attractive support price of Rs 950 per maund to achieve this target. He asked the agriculture department officers to realise their duties and play their role in the prosperity of the country.
He said the country could save precious foreign exchange by increasing the wheat production. Secretary Agriculture also directed that the licenses of those pesticide dealers whose samples were found adulterated should be cancelled immediately. He said reports of those companies found involved in selling of substandard or adulterated pesticides should be sent to Directors General Agriculture (Extension & Pest Warning) for legal action.