LAHORE: Though the Federal Committee on Agriculture is yet to meet to fix targets for various Kharif crops for the provinces, the Punjab agriculture authorities have in principle decided to bring at least one million acres under early cotton cultivation.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo on Thursday to formulate a strategy for achieving the early cotton cultivation target.

Mr Sahoo directed that all means should be used to achieve the early cotton cultivation target by April 15.

Cotton farmers should be informed that the chances of insect attack on early cultivated cotton are less and thus it would prove to be more profitable, he said.

He said that committees are being established at provincial, divisional and district levels to achieve the cotton production target this year.

He clarified that the performance of the officers and staff of the agriculture department in the cotton growing divisions would be directly related to the achievement of the cotton target.

“All divisional and district administrations will provide support to and cooperate with the agriculture department for cotton cultivation. Review meetings will be held every week preferably at the divisional headquarters in the cotton areas,” he added.

The secretary said that the field staff of the Agriculture (Extension) Department should be exempt from additional duties to remain in contact with the cotton growers from sowing to harvesting of the crop.

A participant of the meeting said that the issue of non-payment of the intervention price of Rs8,500 per maund to the cotton growers despite promises by the government during the outgoing cotton crop season (2023-24) did come up for discussion during the huddle.

The secretary sought suggestions about some extra measures taken to give confidence to the growers that the situation would not be repeated in the new season, he said.

He said that the authorities would be focusing on Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions, where land has been spared after potato and maize harvesting, for promoting early cotton sowing because due to cold weather the harvesting of wheat has been delayed in other areas and thus land is not available for cultivating white lint there.

Surplus wheat

Meanwhile, Food Minister Bilal Yasin says that there is surplus wheat available in the market and the administration should keep a close watch on the supply of good quality grain at fixed prices.

Presiding over a meeting on Thursday, he said that the cabinet committee would soon finalise the policy regarding the distribution of bardana (gunny bags) as the wheat procurement campaign will be fully transparent.

He said that Punjab Land Records Authority, Punjab Information Technology Board and all related departments are being taken on board for the wheat procurement drive for the new season and a toll-free number will be given for immediate redressal of complaints.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2024