Punjab government has started free distribution of seed and fertiliser among the farmers of floods affected areas of the province, officials told Business Recorder on Saturday. They said that like distribution of Watan Cards, distribution of seed and fertiliser among the affected farmers would also be made transparent, adding that Secretary Finance has released an initial amount of Rs 1.5 billion for this purpose.
They said that the government would distribute 60,000 tons of wheat seed and 60,000 tons of urea among the flood affected farmers of Mianwali, Bhakkar, Leyya , Muzaffargarh, D.G, Khan, Rajanpur and Rahimyar Khan. Officials said that the programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation of affectees had already been started whereas a comprehensive strategy had also been evolved for restoration of agri-economy of the province. The process of transparent issuing of vouchers was started on Thursday for distribution of seed and fertiliser, they added. Meanwhile Punjab Agriculture Department has planned to sow wheat over 16 million acres of land with the production target of 17 million tons of wheat during 2010-2011 Rabbi season.