BAHAWALPUR: The Sugarcane Research and Development Board at its meeting held here on Saturday approved four new projects.

According to a press release of Punjab Sugar Mills Association issued here, four sugarcane research projects included development of integrated pest management (IPM) module for the control of sugarcane termites, red rot disease of sugarcane through plant defence activators nano-particles and soil amendments, prevalence and integrated management strategies for whip smut of sugarcane caused by Sporisorium Scitamineum and standardisation of sugarcane juice as a value-added product.

PSMA Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf directed to implement the projects with a view to increasing the production of sugarcane in the province to make the country self-sufficient in the production of the sweetener.

The board meeting was participated in by eminent scientists while some of the members joined through video link.

FLOUR: As many as 900,000 bags of 10 kilogram each have so far been distributed under the Punjab government’s free flour scheme among the deserving people across three districts of Bahawalpur division within a week, as per the food department.

DC Bahawalpur Zaheer Anwar inspected a number of free flour distribution points in the city on Saturday.

The DC was told that over 300,000 free flour bags have been given away to the people in the district. The DC directed the officials that there should be no mismanagement and the deserving people should be treated kindly at the centres.

He also took a round of flour centres set up at Government Abbasia School and Dring Stadium for senior citizens and the physically challenged and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements there.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2023