LAHROE: A special session concerning agricultural reforms was convened with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presiding.
The session assessed a proposal aimed at enacting legislation to halt the conversion of agricultural land for residential purposes, along with the restructuring of the Punjab Seed Corporation and Punjab Agricultural Research Board.
Within the session, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sanctioned the issuance of the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card’.
Regarding this initiative, the chief minister announced plans to extend loans totaling Rs150 billion annually, on favorable terms, through the Kisan Card program, benefitting 500,000 farmers.
These loans, amounting to Rs30,000 per acre, will facilitate the procurement of premium seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
ESTABLISHMENT OF EXEMPLARY AGRICULTURE CENTERS:
The government will provide a range of subsidies via the Nawaz Sharif Kisan Card, alongside the establishment of exemplary agriculture centers in partnership with the private sector throughout Punjab.
These centers will offer modern agricultural machinery, training facilities, pesticides, seeds, and demonstration plots.
Additionally, in the initial phase, one exemplary agriculture center will be set up in each district of the province, aiming to safeguard farmers against counterfeit fertilizers and medications.
DIRECTIVES FOR COMPILATION OF CROP YIELD DATA:
The chief minister instructed the Agriculture Department to compile comprehensive data on the production and demand for each crop.
The session also greenlit the establishment of a cutting-edge center of excellence for the research and development of cotton, wheat, and rice crops.
It was resolved during the session to manage the administrative functions of the center of excellence through a board and to establish links between the research center and regional universities.
Furthermore, plans were finalized to establish a research and development center at Agriculture University Faisalabad, costing Rs2 billion, with assistance from China.
The Pak-China R&D Center will facilitate research on genome, germplasm resources, accelerated breeding, and climate change.
Amendments to the Agriculture Pesticides Act and Fertilizers Control Act were proposed to combat the sale of counterfeit agricultural drugs and fertilizers.
The meeting also reached a consensus to equip the agricultural extension wing with modern technology and to recruit 500 agriculture graduates.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
