LAHORE, Pakistan: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday said that development of agriculture sector and welfare of cultivators was among the priorities of PML-N government and rights of small cultivators would be protected.
Presiding over a meeting to review measures taken for the development of agriculture sector and welfare of the farmers, he said development of the country and strengthening of economy depended upon prosperity of farmers.
He said interest of small cultivators was of utmost importance, adding that subsidy on fertilizers should reach the cultivators and hoarding in this regard would not be tolerated.
The Chief Minister said agriculture was the backbone of national economy and development of this sector could result in prosperity of the farmers and strengthening of economy.
He said the Punjab government had taken effective measures for the promotion of agriculture and improving the living standard of the small cultivators. He said that subsidy of billions of rupees had been given for the provision of agri-implements and other facilities to farmers.
The Chief Minister said that departments concerned should take effective measures for controlling hoarding of subsidized fertilizers. He said that solid measures had been taken for economic uplift of cultivators and development of agriculture.
Shahbaz Sharif said the PML-N government held the interest of cultivators upper most and that was why despite pressure of mill owners, the price of sugarcane had not been reduced even by one rupee in the province and sugarcane had been procured from the farmers at the fixed rates.
He said that a comprehensive and solid strategy was need of the hour for increasing per acre yield, adding that agriculture production could be increased by evolving a comprehensive model. He said that results of modern research should reach the farmers while promotion of modern technology was of vital importance for increasing agriculture production.
Provincial Ministers Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Farrukh Javed, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Agriculture and concerned officials attended the meeting.
Source: APP
