SHEIKHUPURA, March 7: The agriculture department has chalked out an action plan for bringing maximum area under sunflower cultivation to meet the domestic need of edible oil.

Official sources said here on Thursday that under the plan over 41,472 acres of land would be brought under sunflower cultivation in the province.

They said the department was stressing on cultivation of sunflower in the district as, according to experts, Sheikhupura district has the most suitable climate for the purpose.

Sources said domestic demand of edible oil was increasing rapidly. The government has to import 1.3 million tons of edible oil worth Rs24 billion annually. At present only 30 per cent edible oil was being produced in the country while the remaining 70 per cent has to be imported, they added.

They said under the government directive the agriculture department was making efforts to motivate growers to bring maximum land under sunflower cultivation in the district. They asked farmers to use certified seed for attaining maximum yield.

The department has also directed the growers of Nankana, Safdarabad, Sheikhupura and Ferozewala tehsils that they should get assistance from the field staff of the department in the selection of sunflower seed.

Sources said the department has already initiated a special training programme for the farmers to equip them with the latest techniques. It would help farmers to get maximum yield of wheat, rice and potato, they added.

Meanwhile, some farmers told this scribe that most of them were reluctant to cultivate sunflower due to lack of incentives and inadequate support price.