Latest news with #AgriculturePunjab
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Efforts afoot to achieve target of 6m cotton bales
LAHORE: Field formations across Punjab are being further mobilized to achieve the provincial target of 6 million cotton bales. Technical committees established at the division, district, and tehsil levels are actively playing their role in ensuring proper crop care. Furthermore, 42 Farmers' Facilitation Centres have been set up to provide quality and affordable pesticides to the cotton growers. These views were expressed by Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, while presiding over a review meeting on the current cotton crop situation. He stated that the cotton crop has entered a crucial stage of growth and boll formation, and the next 60 days are extremely important. Therefore, field formations must intensify efforts for cotton crop management. He emphasized that no negligence or delay in providing technical guidance will be tolerated at this sensitive stage. Farmers should be informed about nutrition and pest management according to expert recommendations. Achieving higher per-acre yields and better cotton quality remains a top priority. He also directed that a special campaign be launched to promote clean cotton picking. He expressed satisfaction with the field reports and remarked that the current status of the cotton crop is encouraging. On the occasion, Secretary Agriculture Punjab directed concerned officials to maintain a daily record of farmers' visits and pesticide purchases at the Farmers' Facilitation Centres and ensure that pesticides are available at prices lower than market rates. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Director Generals of Agriculture Department Punjab Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, and Dr. Amir Rasool, among other officers. Additionally, Director General Research Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman, while Director General Crop Reporting Dr Abdul Qayyum, and Agriculture Department Consultant Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali and other officers participated online. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab to establish Citrus Parks in Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani on Tuesday announced establishing of two 'Citrus Park' in Sargodha and Toba Tek Singh under the ambitious Rs 1.2 billion three-year citrus revival project. The project is aimed at enhancing citrus exports and improving the value chain to meet international standards. Under this establishment of certified nurseries, new orchards will be encouraged to increase production and exports, and ultimately strengthen the national economy. He also announced linking citrus orchards with the Kisan Card programme to help orchard farmers get loans for their farming needs and employing 100 interns and 100 young professionals annually during the three year project duration. He was speaking at the third meeting of the Chief Minister Punjab Citrus Development Task Force which was held at Agriculture House, Lahore. Various proposals regarding citrus development were reviewed during the meeting. Vice Convener Citrus Development Task Force Punjab, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, and Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, also attended. Kirmani stated that under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, steps are being taken for the revival and promotion of citrus fruits in the province. Citrus, particularly kinnow, is recognized as a signature fruit of Punjab. However, due to climate change, citrus orchards are deteriorating, and plants are increasingly affected by diseases and viral infections, resulting in reduced fruit size and shorter shelf life. He stressed the need to bring private fruit nurseries under a legal framework through registration and licensing, and to connect them with diagnostic laboratories. The Minister welcomed the Bank of Punjab's initiative to introduce a loan scheme of Rs. 30 million per individual for setting up citrus nurseries, calling it a positive step for agribusiness. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PAD to distribute 10,000 subsidised tractors to farmers
LAHORE: The Punjab agriculture department is all set to invite applications for second phase of the green tractor programme to distribute 10,000 locally manufactured 50-65 horse power tractors among the farmers. The subsidy extended on these tractors will be Rs 500,000 per tractor. While under another scheme, 10,000 tractors (75 HP and above) both made locally or imported will get Rs 1 million subsidy. Meanwhile, under the wheat incentive support program, all 1,000 tractors are ready, 700 have already been delivered, and the remaining 300 will be delivered within two weeks. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani announced this while presiding over a high-level meeting held at the Agriculture House on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed ongoing and new development projects under the Chief Minister Punjab 'Transforming Punjab Agriculture' program. Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Usama Khan Leghari and Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo also participated. Highlighting various measures taken by the sitting government for agriculture, the Minister stated that under the wheat support program, Rs. 12 billion have already been distributed among farmers. He said the fiscal year 2025–26 will be a year of growth and prosperity for farmers. He shared that in the first phase of kissan card program, 500,000 cards were issued, and 98 percent recovery has been achieved. Under this phase, Rs. 55 billion were allocated for interest-free agricultural loans, 85 percent of which were used for purchasing fertilizers. The kissan card is a flagship initiative of the Punjab government, and the number of cardholders needs to increase to ensure timely procurement of agricultural inputs. In the second phase, Rs. 100 billion were allocated, of which Rs. 84 billion have already been disbursed and Rs. 35 billion utilized by farmers. Through this phase, farmers can purchase diesel, fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides without processing charges. Regarding Model Agriculture Malls, he informed that 98 percent of the construction work of four agri malls has been completed. In the next phase, 10 more such malls will be established across Punjab. In the second phase of the agriculture graduates internship program, 2,000 additional graduates will be hired. Under the solarisation of agri tube wells program, revised letters have been issued to 7,988 selected farmers. Inspection of 7,670 sites is complete, and 652 tube wells have been installed. The process will conclude by September 2025. The first and second phases of supplying super seeders under the smog control program have been completed. A total of 5,000 super seeders will be distributed before the rice harvest in September this year, with rural areas near the motorway given priority for the remaining 2,000. In the fiscal year 2025–26, under the hi-tech mechanization financing program, 11 types of new modern machinery will be provided to farmers on subsidy. Around 1,000 machines will be distributed, with Rs. 30 billion allocated for this purpose. Service providers/farmers will be offered interest-free loans of up to Rs. 50 million, repayable in five years. The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Director Generals Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Engineer Sajid Hassan, Rana Tajammul, and other officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Farmers start receiving tractors under wheat support programme
LAHORE: The Punjab government has started distributing green tractors among farmers under its wheat support programme to encourage wheat cultivation across the province. A total of 1,000 tractors are being handed over through a transparent balloting process. Speaking at a distribution ceremony held in Multan as part of the 'Grow More Wheat' campaign, Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said the Chief Minister of Punjab has introduced a landmark Rs27 billion package to promote wheat farming and increase production. As part of the wheat production competition, farmers at the provincial level will receive an 85-horsepower tractor for the first prize, a 75-horsepower tractor for second, and a 60-horsepower tractor for third. At the district level, the first prize is Rs1 million, second prize Rs0.8 million, and third prize Rs0.5 million. Under this initiative, farmers with wheat crops on 1 to 12.5 acres are receiving a subsidy of Rs5,000 per acre. The minister added that in the Multan Division, 109 farmers are being given tractors under the campaign. He also noted that in the first phase of the Green Tractors Programme, 9,500 farmers had already received tractors. In the second phase, 20,000 more tractors will be distributed. Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the Chief Minister Punjab Kisan Card scheme is offering interest-free loans worth Rs100 billion. The maximum loan limit has been raised to Rs300,000, and landholding eligibility increased to 25 acres. Farmers can withdraw 30% of the loan in cash, while 20% is reserved for diesel. To support the scheme, 4,000 registered dealers and over 700 PSO fuel stations have been included in the network. The ceremony was also addressed by Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo. On this occasion, Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani handed over keys of the green tractors to successful farmers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Rs1.2bn allocation made to revive citrus industry
LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated a huge sum of Rs1.2 billion for citrus revival initiative in the province to provide technical guidance to growers and to introduce improved citrus varieties. Pakistan's annual citrus exports have dropped from $200 million to $130 million and urgent efforts are needed to provide technical guidance to growers and to introduce new, improved citrus varieties, said Deputy Convener Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha while speaking at the second meeting of the Chief Minister's Citrus Development Task Force. He proposed support for nursery businesses and the establishment of a development board focused on orchard revival in Sargodha. He also stressed the need for the swift completion of a modern citrus laboratory and the creation of a monitoring unit for orchard evaluation. The meeting was held at Agriculture House, Lahore. It was chaired by Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani. During the meeting, various proposals for the development of the citrus sector were reviewed. Attendees included Deputy Convener of the Citrus Development Task Force Punjab, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, and Secretary Industries, Commerce, and Investment Punjab, Umar Masood. Kirmani emphasized that boosting citrus production is a key priority for the government of Punjab. He noted that kinnow, in particular, is a signature fruit of the province. However, climate change has led to the deterioration of citrus orchards, making them more susceptible to diseases. This has resulted in a decline in fruit size and shelf life, particularly in kinnow. Several practical initiatives were agreed upon during the meeting, including the establishment of a Citrus Park, integration of citrus orchards into the Kissan Card platform, recruitment of 100 agricultural interns and 100 youth for a three-year citrus revival project, and the provision of subsidies similar to those offered in the wheat support programme. Minister Kirmani also underscored the need to regulate fruit nurseries through licensing and registration. He instructed the Bank of Punjab to introduce a loan scheme for farmers operating citrus nurseries. He stressed the importance of enhancing citrus exports and improving the value chain to meet international standards. Under the Chief Minister's Kissan Package, Rs1.2 billion has been allocated for the citrus revival initiative. This funding aims to establish certified nurseries, create new orchards, and boost both citrus production and exports to strengthen the national economy. The minister further stated that the primary goal of the citrus revival programme is to utilize modern agricultural technology to produce certified citrus plants and provide technical support to farmers. The overarching objective is to improve both the yield and quality of citrus through certified plant material. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
