LAHORE: A Punjab farmer has achieved a yield of 76.51 maunds per acre to win the ‘Grow More Wheat’ competition, while the runners-up obtained 70.65 maunds and 69.65 maunds.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Sahu announced a cash award of Rs600,000 for Abdul Hanan from Toba Tek Singh district for securing the highest wheat yield in the national project aimed at enhancing wheat production per acre.

Mahboob Ahmed from Layyah district and Allah Bakhsh from Khushab district will receive Rs500,00 and Rs400,000 for securing the second and third positions, respectively.

In the canola production competition for the year 2022-23, Farid Khalid from Jhang district was declared the first position holder with a yield of 41.42 maunds per acre. He will be awarded Rs500,000.These announcements were made at a meeting of the Provincial Committee for Wheat and Canola Production Competition 2022-23 held under the chair of Mr Sahu here on Tuesday. The director-general agriculture (extension), chief scientist of Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, director-generals of water management and field, directors of the crop reporting service and agricultural information as well as the project directors for wheat and oilseeds are others members of the committee.

Mr Sahu congratulated the winners and stated that the competition had fostered healthy competition among farmers, motivating them to work more diligently.

The secretary requested the officials to document the technical tips and best practices adopted by the competition winners so that they could be shared with other farmers in the area to enhance their crop yields.

He also instructed a review of the procedures for issuing certificates and distributing modern machinery to farmers with high yields to further incentivize participation in the “Grow More” competition.

Furthermore, it was decided that farmers achieving higher wheat and canola production at the divisional level would also be rewarded by a committee to be established under the supervision of the respective divisional commissioners.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2023