MULTAN, Pakistan: The Punjab Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed said that cotton sowing targets for the Punjab province have been fixed 5.7 million acre while 9.5 million cotton bales production target have also been set for this year.
Briefing the media persons at Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) on Friday, the minister said that the incumbent provincial government was working on war-footing for getting better cotton production.
The minister said that all possible resources would be utilized to achieve the 21.25 maund per acre cotton production and hoped that the growers would also look-after the cotton crop for getting better yielding.
Dr Farrukh Javed said that they could achieve the set targets if weather condition remained pleasant. He said that growers facing problems while our economy also effecting due to climate change and low prices of commodities in the international market from last few years.
The provincial minister said that Punjab Seed Corporation is working effectively and its seed quality could be checked as KPK province have bought four lac cotton seed bags from it. He said they were struggling hard to explore the international market.
The minister said that consistent presence in the international market was necessary adding that they were reviving agriculture sector.
Moreover, he said that training had been imparted to 7,18751 growers about latest production technology so far.
The Punjab minister for agriculture said that 914 pesticide samples were taken and sent to laboratory from which 10 samples were declared substandard while over Rs 2.2 million pesticide have been taken into custody during campaign against fake pesticide and lodged cases against 48 dealers.
