LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani claimed on Thursday to have cultivated cotton on four million acres in the province to achieve 6.5 million bales.

He was chairing a third review meeting on cotton crop held at MNS Agricultural University, Multan. Punjab Agriculture Department Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad Rajwana and others were present.

Mr Kirmani said the government was determined to transform the southern Punjab region into a ‘cotton valley’ again because only the cotton crop could support the country’s economy.

He said all possible resources and means are being utilised to achieve the target.The minister said a zero tolerance policy should be implemented against the elements involved in substandard fertilisers and pesticides. Strict monitoring should be done to ensure the availability of quality agricultural inputs in the market at fixed prices.

He said the field staff of the department should prepare and send a monthly schedule of their visits. Abundant supply of canal water is being ensured in cotton cultivation areas.Mr Sahoo said meetings of divisional and district advisory committees should be held regularly and technical advisory should be issued after consultation with all experts and stakeholders.

He said the private sector should guide the farmers as per the technical advisory and the miscellaneous duties of the field staff were cancelled for the success of the ongoing cotton campaign in the province.

He said digital monitoring of the activities of the field staff is being done in the cotton areas and any laxity and negligence in the guidance of farmers will not be tolerated.

South Punjab Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali Ateel said the capacity of breeding of beneficial insects should be increased.

During the briefing, the participants were told that 49 per cent of the area in Multan division, 28pc each in Bahawalpur and DG Khan had been cultivated against the target.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2024