KARACHI: The provincial government has decided to implement licensing conditions for sale of agricultural pesticides, fertilisers, and seeds, which will now be issued to individuals holding an agricultural degree.

This was announced by Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar, who also holds the portfolios of anti-corruption, sports, and youth affairs.

He said that graduates in agriculture would be supported financially for starting personal business ventures and start-ups.

While talking to media at a three-day workshop organised by the agriculture department at a research centre, the minister said that the government’s focus was on empowering female students in the agricultural sector by providing them with relevant training.

The workshop aimed to train 43 women in the use and maintenance of tractors and other modern agricultural machinery.

The goal of the workshop is to teach women the methods of farming, including operating and repairing tractors.

Additionally, women participating in this program will have the opportunity to purchase tractors at subsidized rates.

Sardar Mahar said that women could also rent out the tractors as a source of income.

He underscored the necessity of providing agricultural education along with other training to farmers in the province.

The agriculture minister said that stringent actions were being taken against fake companies selling agricultural products.

Speaking at the workshop, agriculture secretary Rafiq Ahmed Buriro said that women trained to operate tractors were also provided with learner’s driving licences.

He stressed the critical role of women in the agricultural sector and said that actions were being taken against those selling counterfeit agricultural products daily.

He also emphasised the need to modernise agriculture, highlighting the importance of using technology to increase per-acre yield.

The event was attended among others by Director General Agriculture Shahab Abro, DG Water Management Nadeem Shah, DG Agriculture Extension Munir Ahmed Jumani, Vice-Chancellor of Agriculture University Dr Fateh Muhammad Mari and representatives from the Sindh Abadgar Board.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024