Latest news with #PunjabAgricultureDepartment
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab, China agree to boost agri cooperation
LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department on Thursday hosted a high-level consultative session with representatives of 18 leading Chinese companies to enhance collaboration in agriculture between China and Punjab. The Chinese delegation, led by Guo Yuguo, included prominent companies such as Weifang Shengchuan, JOTEC, Weichai Lovol, PAISET, and SAIC. The meeting took place at Agriculture House, Lahore, and aimed to explore joint initiatives in agricultural mechanisation, smart farming, and digitalisation. Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo welcomed the delegation and reiterated the province's commitment to modernising its agricultural sector. In his address, Minister Kirmani said the Punjab government, under the vision of the chief minister, is offering subsidies on modern machinery and launching leasing schemes to revolutionise agriculture in the province. 'China is a global leader in agri-tech, and Punjab is keen to benefit from its expertise,' he said, inviting Chinese investment in local agriculture. He described Punjab as the 'food basket of Pakistan' and underscored the importance of adopting advanced farming technologies. Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo noted that all possible resources are being mobilised to ensure farmers have access to modern machinery. He lauded the Chinese companies' presentations and called the session 'highly informative.' He added that the Government of Punjab, through the Bank of Punjab, is offering interest-free loans to farmers for purchasing modern equipment. Major General Shahid Nazir (retd), Director General Strategic Projects, emphasised the government's focus on providing advanced harvesters, drones, and precision tools under the Green Pakistan Initiative. He stressed the value of Chinese expertise in agricultural engineering and smart farming to propel Punjab's growth. During the session, Chinese company representatives gave detailed briefings on a wide range of agricultural machinery, from small-scale tools like power tillers and mini harvesters to large-scale equipment such as combine harvesters and multifunctional tractors. Smart technologies, including IoT-enabled devices and autonomous tractors, were also introduced. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Agha Nabeel Akhtar, Additional Secretary (Admin) Ijaz Munir, Director Generals Agriculture (Information) Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Ch Abdul Hameed, Engineer Sajid Naseer, and Project Director Dr Anjum Ali. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjab's paddy trap: Despite years of diversification push, state set for another season of water-guzzling crop
Despite years of policy push, expert recommendations, and farmer outreach on the need for crop diversification, Punjab remains firmly caught in the grip of paddy cultivation. As of July 21, the state has completed paddy sowing on 30.95 lakh hectares, nearly matching last year's highest-ever figure of 32.44 lakh hectares, a clear indication that a meaningful change in cropping patterns remains elusive. According to data from the Punjab Agriculture Department, of the total paddy area sown so far, 25.20 lakh hectares is under non-Basmati paddy, the water-intensive variety largely grown for government procurement, while 5.78 lakh hectares is under Basmati, which is mainly exported and doesn't come under Minimum Support Price (MSP). Sowing is still ongoing and is expected to inch closer to or equal to last year's figures. The grim reality underscores a recurring concern: while diversification has remained a buzzword in policy circles and press conferences, on the ground, farmers continue to rely on paddy as their primary Kharif crop due to assured procurement by the government and a lack of equally profitable alternatives, such as Kharif maize, cotton, and Basmati. In stark contrast, maize cultivation — often promoted as a key alternative in kharif season due to its relatively low water requirement — has only managed to cover 87,374 hectares in the entire state so far. District-wise, Hoshiarpur leads with 36,000 hectares, followed by Ropar (21,050 hectares), SBS Nagar (8,255 hectares), Pathankot (6,880 hectares), SAS Nagar (4,385 hectares) and Jalandhar (4,350 hectares). Agriculture experts say this skewed sowing pattern continues to jeopardise Punjab's already depleted groundwater reserves. 'Year after year, we talk of diversification, but paddy remains the default crop. Without strong incentives, robust marketing systems for alternative crops like maize or pulses, and a major shift in procurement policy, we will keep circling back to the same crisis,' said an agriculture official who wished not to be named. Farmers, meanwhile, cite economic compulsions. 'Paddy offers assured returns through MSP procurement, while maize markets are unpredictable. There is no safety net if we experiment and fail. Moreover, the yield of Kharif maize is much lower than that of paddy — maize yields range from 22 to 25 quintals per acre, whereas paddy yields range from 28 to 36 quintals per acre, depending on the variety,' said a farmer from Jalandhar. 'The government-announced MSP for maize is Rs 2,400 per quintal, slightly higher than paddy's Rs 2,389 per quintal but paddy's yield is much higher. However, maize is not procured by the government, and private players offer rates far below the MSP. So, only those farmers whose land is unsuitable for paddy, or those who have contracts with ethanol-producing companies, opt for Kharif maize,' added the farmer. As sowing draws to a close, Punjab once again finds itself trapped in a pattern that threatens both its environment and the long-term sustainability of agriculture. Unless bold, structural changes are implemented, the discussion around diversification may remain just that — mere talk, said an expert from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. He pointed out that even PAU experts appear more focused on developing high-yielding paddy and wheat varieties, rather than promoting the research of the seeds of alternative crops at the same pace.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab plans agri reforms to boost productivity: minister
LAHORE: 'The Punjab government is linking research institutions and universities and believes in supporting the private sector by providing maximum facilities with the aim to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability.' Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stated this while speaking at a workshop 'current state of agriculture and planning for Punjab 2025–26' held on Thursday with the collaboration of the Punjab Agriculture Department, the Food Security and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE), and the Pakistan Agricultural Coalition (PAC). The minister stressed that the establishment of virtual and electronic markets for agricultural commodity marketing is the need of the hour. He said the purpose of this consultative session is to engage stakeholders to assess the current status of agriculture and devise a future roadmap. He emphasized that the main focus is on enhancing agricultural productivity and profitability and ensure their sustainability. The government is committed to securing fair prices for farmers' produce. Highlighting the 'Transforming Agriculture Punjab' programme, he said a zero-interest loan of Rs 30 billion has been introduced to promote mechanization. The government is constructing 10 agri malls next year to provide agricultural machinery on a rental basis while construction of four agri malls is already 98 percent complete. The minister further stated that the chief minister is focusing on high-efficiency irrigation systems, research, and the supply of climate-resilient seeds. Under Phase I of the Kissan Card programme, Rs 57 billion in loans have been distributed to 525,000 farmers, out of which 98 percent have repaid their loans. Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Usama Khan Leghari said that it is imperative to reduce crop production costs and increase per-acre yield. He noted that the Kissan Card programme has reduced input costs by 70 percent. He urged the government to focus more on agricultural research. Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stated that Punjab contributes 70 percent to the country's agriculture and that practical steps are being taken to transform the sector. He emphasized the importance of corporate and cluster farming to meet modern agricultural demands and acknowledged that climate change presents a serious challenge to the sector. He also highlighted the Green Pakistan Initiative as a remarkable project of the government. Director General of the Green Corporate Initiative Pakistan, Major General Shahid Nazir, said that to turn the dream of agricultural transformation into reality, the government must address the instability in farmers' product pricing. He stressed the need to educate farmers on expanding cultivated land and to adopt modern technology, collect data, and benefit from agricultural experts to promote mechanization. During the workshop, stakeholders and private sector representatives held detailed discussions on the availability of farm inputs and improving farm economics. They focused on increasing per-acre yield and managing crop diversification. Another session offered consultations on mitigating the effects of climate change, restoring soil health, and ensuring adequate water availability. The fourth session emphasized the need for collective efforts to improve the agri-commodity marketing system. Participants included President of the Bank of Punjab Zafar Masud, Vice Chancellors of agricultural universities, Shehzad Malik from Guard Agri, stakeholders involved in agricultural production, and representatives from private companies. A large number of participants also joined the session online. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-06-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Whitefly control in cotton: Agri dept issues recommendations
LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has advised cotton growers to conduct regular pest scouting of their crops and apply pesticides only when the whitefly population reaches its economic threshold level. Weeds in and around cotton fields should be removed, while regular scouting should also be carried out on alternate host crops such as brinjal, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, chilli, okra, mung bean, and sesame to ensure timely control of whitefly on these plants, said a spokesperson for the department on Monday. The spokesperson further advised that nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied according to the crop's requirements. The crop must also be protected from water stress by ensuring irrigation is provided in line with the crop's needs and prevailing weather conditions. Farmers are further advised to install 15 to 20 sticky traps per acre at least 15–20 days before expected infestation and replace them every 15 days. In addition, 20 biocards of Chrysoperla per acre - available from the Biological Laboratories of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) - should also be utilized. To control whitefly, growers are urged to use recommended insecticides in consultation with local agricultural experts from the department, ensuring proper timing, dosage, and spraying methods are followed. The repeated use of pesticides with the same chemistry should be avoided to prevent resistance. For effective application, farmers should ensure proper spray coverage, preferably using a power sprayer equipped with high-quality hollow cone nozzles, and apply pesticides during evening hours for better results, the spokesperson concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Paddy transplanted in 1.75 lakh hectares so far — a 4-fold jump from last year
Paddy transplantation in Punjab has gained momentum, with official data showing nearly 1.75 lakh hectares covered by June 10 — more than fourfold of 40,000 hectares recorded in the consecutive period last year, indicating a substantial shift in the sowing patterns driven largely by a change in the state government's policy. On the contrary, agricultural experts and officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department have raised serious concerns over the implications of this policy, particularly due to the predominance of long-duration paddy varieties like Pusa-44 and Peeli Pusa in the early sowing phase, as these varieties typically require nearly 160 days from nursery to harvest and are known to be highly water-intensive. Also, these varieties are not recommended for sowing in Punjab. The early surge is attributed to the Punjab government's decision to advance official paddy transplantation date — from earlier June 10 or around mid-June to June 1 this year — aimed at reducing the moisture level in the crop at the time of harvesting in October. Groundwater concerns amid heatwave 'The early sowing of long-duration varieties under heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 44°C in several parts of the state, is problematic,' a senior officer of the Punjab Agriculture Department told The Indian Express. 'High temperatures evaporate water fast. As these varieties require frequent irrigation, especially in the initial 4-5 weeks, maintaining 2-3 inches of standing water is essential for the growth of paddy under the puddled transplanting system.' The ban on cultivating Pusa-44, previously imposed due to its high-water consumption and contribution to stubble burning, appears to have been ignored by a considerable number of farmers, facilitated by the earlier transplanting window. This has further aggravated groundwater depletion concerns, particularly in central and southern Punjab, already categorised as 'over-exploited zones' by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Sharing his experience, Jaspal Singh, a farmer from Patiala, said, 'Out of 10 acres, I've transplanted Pusa-44 on five acres. I began in the first week of June, and the crop would be ready by around October 15. It's a long-duration crop, but I prefer it because it gives a good yield and I can manage it better when sown earlier.' 'On the remaining five acres, I am planning to sow short and mid-duration varieties, which take around 120 to 140 days, including nursery time. These varieties are generally less water-intensive and align better with environmental recommendations, but give less yield than Pusa-44,' Jaspal added. Electricity demands spiked The early and widespread transplantation, on the other hand, has spiked electricity demand, as irrigation requirements soar, across the state. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has recently recorded a record-breaking power consumption triggered by agricultural load in some parts. Officials anticipate continued pressure on the grid amid mercury rising and intensified paddy transplantation. The Punjab Agriculture Department, which is closely monitoring the situation, has reiterated its advisory for staggered sowing to help balance water and electricity usage. Experts also encourage the use of short-duration and water-efficient paddy varieties, which reduce the crop cycle to around 120-130 days and are less taxing on groundwater. In light of the ongoing climate crisis, growing energy demand and critical groundwater depletion, environmentalists and agronomists emphasise the need for urgent crop diversification and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. 'We are trying our best to convince farmers to do away with long-duration paddy varieties because the consequence they face in terms of boring their tubewells deeper into the ground every few years,' Punjab Agricultural Department Director Jaswant Singh said. 'As the paddy season progresses, the state finds itself standing at a crucial juncture, balancing the economic imperatives of farmers with the environmental sustainability of its agricultural heartland,' another official said.
