LAHORE: Punjab has sown paddy on at least 4.6 million acres this season to achieve over 3,870 million metric ton production target.

This was revealed in a meeting of the agriculture department held here on Monday to review the paddy crop situation and chaired by Secretary Wasif Khurshid.

Director-General (extension) Dr Anjum Ali said the mechanical cultivation process would be introduced to improve paddy production under a federal government’s project.

Under it, climate smart technology would be employed through the use of farm machines with 50 percent of subsidy from the government and developing new rice varieties with better production capabilities, he said.

He said a sum of Rs4.63 billion would be given to Punjab under the project, which also includes developing 3,625 model farms and holding of gatherings for the guidance of cultivators.

Dr Ali said that the growers would also be offered subsidized harvester facility at the time of reaping of the paddy crop under the same project.

Mr Khushid desired a direct contact with the growers both for guiding them to reap a better crop and for raising awareness about the drawbacks of burning paddy stubs to control air pollution.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019