DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Authorities on Monday began a crackdown on black marketeers of fertilisers in Paharpur tehsil here.

Assistant commissioner Allah Noor Sherani sealed several fertiliser godowns on the complaints of farmers.

He said dealers shouldn’t sell fertilisers on the black market otherwise strict action would be taken against them.

Meanwhile, residents have demanded action against kite flyers to “protect people’s lives.”

“As the spring season has set in, more and more people are flying kites but this activity has rendered others on the streets, especially children, vulnerable to string injuries,” resident Altaf Khan said.

He said there was a need to discourage the flying of kites with chemically-coated strings.

“A crackdown should be launched on kite selling shops immediately to apprehend sellers of chemically-coated strings,” he said.

The residents also called for effective community awareness to address the issue.

SEMINAR: The Agricultural Research Institute Dera Ismail Khan, with the cooperation of PARC Islamabad, organised a one-day awareness seminar here at Ratta Kulachi Farm to promote the cultivation of pulses.

The event was meant to guide growers about modern farming techniques about pulses crops and enabling them to get booming yield of pulses.

ARI director Abdul Qayyum Khan briefed participants about the institute and its ongoing projects.

Principal Investigator PSDP-Pulses DI Khan Mohammad Kashan Qureshi shed light on varietal development and characteristics of pulses.

He urged the growers to use recommended varieties of seed and adopt mechanical harvesting techniques of seed to get maximum yield.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2024