LAHORE – The current provincial government has allocated an amount of Rs 1.0 billion for funding output oriented research projects on a high priority basis through the Punjab Agricultural Research Board. This was stated by Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, while delivering concluding remarks at an international seminar on “wheat productivity enhancement to sustain self sufficiency” held at Ayyub Agriculture Research Institue (AARI) Faisalabad.
In the seminar agriculture scientists form India, Bangladesh and international research institutions like ICARDA, CIMMIT presented research papers regarding different aspects of wheat research. He said that scientists of AARI, Faisalabad are playing an important role in agriculture development of the country and have released numerous high yielding crop varieties which have played pivotal role in strengthening national economy.
He told that an amount of Rs. 900 million under Competitive Grant System (CGS) for 42 higher priority research projects has been approved by PARB, so far. He also noted that 52 new varieties of different crops have been developed by the research wing of agriculture department and approved by the Punjab seed council for cultivation since 2008 while only 49 were approved by the previous government during their five year tenure, which reflects pretty strong performance of agricultural scientists working in Agriculture Department, Punjab.
Highlighting efforts of Government to boost agricultural development in the province, the Minister stated that Government has provided subsidy of up to Rs 4.0 billion to small farmers for purchase of tractors during last two years whereas up to Rs 1.0 billion were provided for purchase of farm implements. He called on agricultural scientists to frame recommendations for increasing production of corps and announced that the government would provide sufficient funds to implement recommendations.
