A five-year programme under Agriculture Emergency, a national programme for enhancing profitability through increasing productivity of rice has been launched in 15 rice growing districts of the Punjab costing Rs 6.63 billion.

Under the programme the government will provide subsidy to the paddy growers belonging to these districts for obtaining authenticated paddy seed and interested paddy growers are directed to contact with their local Agriculture department for registration.

Sources in Agriculture department told Business Recorder on Sunday that under the programme special attention would be focused on promoting mechanized farming in these districts. Under national agriculture emergency efforts would be made for timely sowing of identified ecological best verities through the promotion of direct seedling of rice drill in these districts.

Under the programme government will provide riding type rice transplanter, walk-after type rice transplanter, nursery raising machine, Direct Seedling drill, rice straw chopper, water tight rotavator and knapsack power sprayer.

The government will also provide subsidy to the rice grower for the purchase of tested paddy seeds and pesticides. The government will also provide subsidy amounting Rs 1500 per acres to the growers for encouraging combined harvesting. The concept of the programme was to promote mechanized farming aimed at enhancing per acre yield, In this regard government will provide agricultural machinery to the growers on reduce rates for encouraging mechanized agriculture and ensure economic benefits of the growers.