SARGODHA: Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti has said that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Agriculture Transformation Plan for the development of the agricultural sector is a revolutionary initiative which will have everlasting results for the development of the country’s agriculture and the prosperity of the farmers.
The administrative and agriculture officers should ensure that the farmers are fully aware of these important measures of the government for agriculture. Through the internship program of agricultural graduates, the farmers will be able to get full guidance on modern farming methods. He expressed these views at a meeting on agriculture on Friday. Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Aurangzeb Haider Khan and Director Agriculture Shahid Hussain, along with ADCR and Regional Government officers along with Khushab, Mianwali and Bhakkar Deputy Commissioners participated in the meeting through video link.
The meeting was told that the quota of 136 graduates of Sargodha division has been allott
ed for the internship of agricultural fresh graduates and so far 106 graduates have applied while the last date for submission of applications is August 5. A report on cotton crop was also presented in the meeting and it was told that 77% of the target of sowing set in Sargodha division has been achieved. The weather has not been favorable for the cotton crop in the recent season. The drive to guide the farmers in every forum to protect the crop from diseases was under way. It was further informed that 10 facility centers were established for cotton farmers in Sargodha Division from where more than 2,000 farmers have benefited from agricultural medicines and fertilizers so far.
The commissioner directed the four deputy commissioners to speed up the crackdown against the elements selling fake agricultural medicines and fertilizers. The meeting was told that under the farmer-friendly initiative of the Punjab Chief Minister, a date has been set for issuing farmer cards to 150,720 farmers of the four district
s of the division and more than 34,000 farmers have been registered for the card till date . The commissioner emphasized the need to play their role to make an awareness message for Kisan card registration to every farmer . The meeting was also informed about the target of rice cultivation in the division.
Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti directed to get the services of teachers of agriculture department of University of Sargodha for internship of agricultural graduates. In the meeting, several important steps were taken to make the awareness campaign more active about the welfare of the farmers and the schemes launched by the government for them.