ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan on Monday asked farmers to follow the procedure approved by the National Agriculture Research Council (NARC) for wheat sowing in order to achieve increased production.

Talking to mediapersons after launching the countrywide "Grow more wheat campaign" at the NARC, the minister said due to lack of proper planning during the wheat-sowing season, majority of farmers failed to get the required production.

He said the government was trying its best to make the country self-sufficient in wheat and also enable it to export the commodity.

He said four years ago Pakistan was exporting wheat; however, due to drought the production of wheat decreased and the country had no other option but to import the commodity for satisfying the growing demand.

Therefore, he added, the government had focused on creating awareness among the farmers and agriculturists about ways to enhance wheat production. During the campaign, he said, maximum and appropriate information would be provided to the farmers about the sowing of wheat on scientific lines. Water, he observed, should be given at proper time to wheat crop for attaining increased productivity.

Mr Bosan also asked farmers to use herbicides on time and in accordance with the experts' instructions. He said proper use of phosphorus was also essential in this regard.

To a question, the minister said the government was making efforts to achieve the target production to avoid import of wheat.

AGREEMENT SIGNED: The ministry also entered into an agreement with the International Centre for Agriculture Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA).