Kissan package is the revolutionary step:Dr. Farrukh Javed

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farrukh Javed has said that Prime Minister’s Kissan package worth Rs 341 billion is the revolutionary step that will not only  help farmers to stand up on their feet but also increase the productivity.

He was chairing a seminar on Kissan package arranged by University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with the Faisalabad Editors Council. Cotton and rice growers faced setback this year and it is a bailout package for them, he added.

He said that the government was mapping out a strategy for the sustainable agriculture in the country. He rapped the previous governments for not giving the due share to the agriculture sector. We find no example like this package dealing with small farmers in the history of Pakistan.

He said that non-continuity of policies was the serious matter of concern, hampering the process to reap the fruits of potential. He said that the present government was making all-out effort to strengthen the agriculture sector and a number of agricultural policies were being followed for the betterment and welfare of the small farmers.

He said that financial assistance of Rs 40 billion will be provided to more than 1.2 million small farmers of cotton and rice in the Punjab. It will help them to purchase the basic inputs for the cultivation of Rabi crops. He was of the view that additional soft loan worth Rs 100 billion was being giving to small farmers under the package.  He said that under the wheat campaign of Punjab government winners of contest are getting 80 mounds. He also asked the UAF to devise the mechanism of precision agriculture. He said that balanced usage of fertilizer will not only increase the productivity but also save billions of rupees.

He appreciated the steps of holding seminar on Kissan Package for raising awareness regarding its importance and effectiveness. He called for ensuring the usage of modern agricultural tools in the field in order to ensure the food security for the people. He said that Kissan package would go a long way for achieving the self-reliance in the agriculture production and would help transform the economic life of the farmers into prosperity.

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad said that it is the historical step which has been taken by the government and valuable gift for farmers. Under the package, Rs 147 billion was being given as direct benefit and Rs 194 billion indirect benefit to the farmers.

He said that it was the time to move towards sustainable agriculture for which sophisticated tools of agriculture must be introduced among the farming community. He said that increased investment must be made in the research and development activities for increasing per acre yield.

He said that farm commission needs to set up in Pakistan on the pattern of US congress for the sustainable policies.