Punjab Minister for Agriculture Ahmad Ali Olakh has said that all available resources are being utilised to enhance agricultural yield in the province while the provincial government ultimate goal is to ensure provision of unadulterated and nutritious food to people.
He was speaking during a "BioTech Workshop" at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI) on Tuesday. Agri Scientist Dr Tayyab and Chairman LCCI Standing Committee on Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Dr Shahid also spoke on the occasion.
The Minister said that because of communication gap, the research in the agriculture field is not benefiting the farmers that resulted in decline of per acre yield in the country. The agriculture sector's share in the GDP has been squeezed to 20 per cent from 38 per cent which has become a matter of major concern for the present government, he said.
A huge amount would be spent on Agriculture research while for livestock promotion a separate amount would be allocated. To overcome the shortage of fertilisers, the Punjab government is in constant contact with the federal government to ensure availability of fertilisers to the farming community, he said.
LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali said that government would have to take concrete measures for the promotion of agriculture sector as the future lies with agro dollar not with the petro dollar. The agriculture continues to be the single largest sector, a dominant driving force for growth and the main source of livelihood for 66 per cent of the Pakistan's population.