Tunnel farming technology for vegetable production has gained the popularity among the small growers and farmers in Punjab. Sources in Agriculture department told Business Recorder on Sunday that tunnel farming was being carried out over 16101 acres of land across the Province.

Over 2000 small farmers including female farmers have adopted tunnel farm technology on their own expanse in Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial tehsils of the district. More farmers are considering to opt this technology keeping in view the economic benefits in the district and contacting Agriculture department for obtaining guidance and necessary information for starting tunnel farming.

The experts of Agriculture department are extending full cooperation and assistance to the interested farmers in this regard. Some progressive farmers have successfully installed walk-in and low tunnels in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils of the district and cultivating off-season vegetables like cucumber, tomato, green chilly, paprika, pumpkin, bitter gourd, watermelon and melons etc.

The tunnel technology had paved the way for bringing revolutionary changes in agriculture sector not only enabling the growers to produce off-season vegetables but also for improving their economic condition.

Some progressive farmers Maqsood Jutt, Masooma Bibi, Batool Bibi and Aslam Akhtar Choudary said, "We are successfully attaining the yield of off-season vegetables and gaining better return of crops, adding that farmers' community had installed walk in and low tunnels without the finical support of the provincial government."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019