Wheat is being cultivated on a total of 19.5 million acres in Punjab province with an increase of 200,000 acres, estimated to produce 100 million tonnes, more than 2 million tonnes from last year.

This was stated by the Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Ahmed Langrial at the inauguration of wheat sowing campaign 2019-20. The event also witnessed the launch of Prime Minister's Agriculture Emergency programme aimed at increasing per acre wheat production.

Syed Samsam Bukhari Minister for Consolidation of Holdings, Punjab, Dr Anjum Ali Director General Agriculture (Extension), Dr Ghazanfar Ali Managing Director Punjab Seed Corporation, Mudassar Abbas Director Agriculture Information, Punjab and a large number of farmers and district administration of Okara were also present on this occasion.

Minister Agriculture while addressing the gathering said that under the Prime Minister's Agricultural Emergency Programme, more than Rs 9 billion is being provided to the farmers for subsidized varieties of seeds and agricultural machinery, which in the coming days will increase the average yield of wheat in the province by 7 maund per acre which will ensure food security in the province, he added.

According to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Punjab government is taking every possible step for the welfare of the farmers under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdaar, which will increase the income of the farmers and increase the per acre yield, Langrial added.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Holdings Samsam Bukhari said that agriculture is the main focus of the policy set by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and many steps will be taken to ensure the prosperity of the farmers in the coming years. This will increase agricultural exports and start a new era of prosperity will begin.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019