Punjab Agriculture Department has proposed a target of 19.2 million tons of wheat for the Rabi 2012-13 for which an area of 16.80 million acre will be brought under wheat cultivation. To achieve the target an area of 1.183 million acre has been proposed to be brought under wheat cultivation in the Rawalpindi Division, said a spokesman of the department here on Monday.
According to experts, the ideal sowing time for the wheat crop in the barani area is 15th October to 15th November. Five high yielding wheat varieties for the barani areas including Chakwal-50, GA-2002, NARC-2009, Baris-2009, Dhehrabi-2011 have been recommended by the Agriculture Department. Farmers have been further advised to use the seed rate of 50 kg per acre for sowing of wheat in these areas. Wheat growers may contact Punjab Agriculture Helpline 0800-15000 and 0800-29000 for technical guidance during 0800 am to 0800 pm daily, the spokesman concluded.