Punjab reaches 52pc of wheat cultivation target as sown area rises 7.7pc

Punjab has brought 52 per cent of its wheat cultivation target under crop this season, with sown area 7.7 per cent higher than at the same point last year, a meeting chaired by the province's agriculture minister, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, was told in Lahore on Friday.

Business Recorder reported the 52 per cent figure. ProPakistani, reporting on the same meeting, put the province at 51 per cent of the target while carrying the same 7.7 per cent increase in area sown. Neither figure has been independently confirmed.

The meeting was told that line sowing had been adopted on 51 per cent of the cultivated area and that 44 per cent of the seed used was certified.

Kirmani directed the agriculture department to intensify field monitoring so that cultivation targets are met and certified seed and fertiliser are available at notified prices. He ordered indiscriminate action against those burning crop residue and said monitoring would continue through weekly holidays. The meeting also reviewed paddy harvesting and measures against residue burning.

On the Kissan Card programme, the meeting heard that agricultural loans worth Rs 100 billion had been approved for one million farmers in the fifth phase. Of these, 818,000 farmers had received credit and Rs 26 billion had been utilised.

Under the fourth phase of the Green Tractor Programme, 1,840 tractors have been distributed. The fifth phase covers 9,500 locally manufactured and imported tractors. The department has received 305,000 applications, of which 188,000 have been verified.

Kirmani named achievement of wheat cultivation targets, timely recovery of Kissan Card loans, prevention of crop residue burning and action against counterfeit fertiliser as the department's priorities. He told field officers to complete all agricultural development projects within their prescribed timelines.