The Punjab government has been offered a 50 percent subsidy on micronutrients and is committed to introduce more measures to facilitate rice sector.
These views were expressed by Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial during the launching ceremony of REAP journal at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The minister said that the farmers will be given transplanters and rice harvesters at 50% discount and Rice choppers will also be given to the farmers on subsidy.
He said that the LCCI will be given representation in the agriculture committee of the Punjab government.
Speaking about the measures govt has planned to implement the minister said that government will coordinate with rice exporters in regard with the use of pesticides.
Competitions should be held among the farmers to encourage production, adding that the government is working to develop long grain basmati which is internationally acceptable.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar said that there is a lack of Research & Development, especially in developing hybrid seed varieties for Basmati. Other countries, despite of the fact that we have most suitable soil for basmati cultivation, have developed more hybrid varieties of rice.
He also said the most effective remedy for lowering the cost of production is increasing the per acre yield. This has been witnessed in case of coarse variety where hybrid rice replaced IRRI and took tremendous yield jump in Sindh.
LCCI Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmed, Chairman REAP Shahjahan Malik, Pir Syed Nazim Hussain Shah, LCCI executive Committee members were also present on the occasion.
