Malik distributes more than 19 thousand precious saplings of olive

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Forests, Malik Ahmad Ali has , grapes and citrus imported from Spain, Turkey and other developed countries among more than 64 registered nursery owners of district Chakwal. If our agriculture research institutes preserve these varieties, these will play an important role in the development of agriculture which is a back bone of our economy. He said that previous governments made only political claims but like other sectors, we have lagged behind in agriculture due to not taking practical steps.

He expressed these views while addressing the sapling distribution ceremony among the farmers and nursery owners in Chakwal today. He said that Punjab government is fully aware of the problems of farmers and nursery owners which included increasing prices of diesel, electricity and fertilizers. He said that Punjab government is taking revolutionary steps by giving subsidy on green tractor scheme, bio-gas plants and other agriculture implements for the prosperity of farmers and uplift of agriculture. While paying tributes to agri scientists and PEMCO, Malik Ahmad Ali said that Punjab government is ready to help them and has also taken practical steps and today’s function is a proof to it.

Chief Executive Officer of PEMCO, Muhammad Imran Amjad said that PEMCO is making efforts for giving progressive approach to the farmers and harmonizing them with modern demands. He said that the new varieties will be helpful in increasing the production of farmers. Director Bari Institute, Dr. Tariq, addressing the function said that quality fruit will be available to the locals due to distribution of these saplings by Punjab government and farmers and the country would become prosperous.

Later, talking to media-men, Provincial Livestock Minister said that every step of Punjab government is aimed at making the four districts of Potohar region an olive valley under its economic programme as the research of our agriculture scientists has proved that if farmers are provided proper training and the precious saplings of olive are provided in the beginning, the dream of making Potohar region an olive valley would soon be materialized. Officers of Agriculture Department, PEMCO, experts of fruits and vegetables of Agriculture University Faisalabad as well as more than 100 farmers attended the function.