Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif took a revolutionary step for the development of agriculture and welfare of farmers in the province. She approved “Sar Sabz Punjab…Khushhal Kashtkaar (Green Punjab…Prosperous Farmers) Programme, while chairing a special meeting on the development of agriculture sector in the province. Madam Chief Minister gave in-principle approval to start multiple schemes in this regard. These schemes include pavement of watercourses, farm mechanisation, focus on research & development to introduce best quality seeds, and the provision of solar tube wells to the farmers.
Under the “Pavement of Water Courses Programme,” initially 1200 water courses will be paved with a cost of Rs 10 billion. Madam Chief Minister directed to pave and rehabilitate all water courses in Punjab in next 05 years.
Under the farm mechanisation Programme, 56 types of agricultural machinery along with 1000 laser levelers will be purchased at a cost of Rs 02 billion in 3 months, and will be given to the farmers on 60% subsidy. Under the 2-year mechanization plan, 23,000 agricultural implements and 2,280 laser land levelers will be given to farmers at a cost of Rs 13.4 billion.
Under the Solar Tube Well Project, farmers with a land holding of up to 25 acres will be provided with the solar systems in two years.
Earlier, Secretary Agriculture gave a detailed briefing on various projects for the uplift of agriculture sector. He presented a plan to increase seed production from 4 lakh tonnes to 6 lakh tonnes. The proposal to cultivate soybean seed on one lakh acre area in collaboration with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad was also discussed in the meeting. Moreover, Madam Chief Minister was briefed that there is 30 to 37 percent tax and duty on the import of high-tech agricultural machinery. She ensured to approach the federal government to get these taxes and duties waived off on the import of high-tech machinery for the development of agriculture in the province. She also agreed to contact the federal government to exempt the rice straw shredder machine from tax to control smog and prevent crop residue burning.
Secretary agriculture also briefed the Chief Minister that Pakistan needs 29 million tonnes of wheat, Punjab produces 26 million tonnes. However, 12% wheat yield and 18% rice yield have decreased due to manual sowing.
Madam Chief Minister was also apprised that In Pakistan, 1.75 million tons of seeds are required annually for the cultivation of various crops. However, due to the unavailability of sufficient quality of seeds in the country, seeds worth Rs 50 billion are imported annually for the purpose.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Sania Ashiq, Secretaries Agriculture, Finance, President Bank of Punjab and other senior officers concerned attended the meeting.