Secretary Agriculture Punjab Muhammad Mehmood claimed on Tuesday that the agricultural sector grew by 3.5 percent, while the production of different crops increased by 8 percent in Punjab as a result of farmer friendly policies introduced by the government. Government of Punjab will set up purchasing centers at district level for purchasing sunflower in collaboration with All Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association, he announced while addressing a seminar about profitable cultivation of sunflower arranged by Agriculture Department Punjab and ICI Pakistan jointly.
He said Punjab province is a catalyst in the food security and poverty eradication. Government is aware that country's development is subject to the prosperity of the farmer and for which all possible resources are utilized. Secretary Agriculture further said that revolutionary measures are taken by the Government of Punjab for modern irrigation and meteorological measures. It is a challenge to meet the needs of edible oil due to the mounting population. Despite being an agricultural country our production of edible oils is insufficient, so a special campaign under Khadim-e-Punjab Kissan package has been launched to increase the cultivation of Sunflower.
Approximately 90 percent of the target for cultivation of sunflower is fixed for Southern Punjab cities Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. He further said that Subsidy of Rs 5,000 per acre on Sunflower cultivation (Oilseed) is being provided under Khadim-e-Punjab Kissan Package. This subsidy will be provided in form of voucher which will be sealed in Sunflower seed bags. All registered farmers under Khadim-e-Punjab Kissan Package will be given subsidy on cultivation of Sunflower up to 10 acres. Under this subsidy scheme per acre growth of oil seed will be increased and import bill on oilseed crop will be diminished.