Farmers advised to use certified wheat seed in arid zone

Multan: Punjab Agriculture department advised the farmers in the arid zone (rain-fed areas) to use certified seed of approved wheat varieties to achieve higher per-acre yields. According to Punjab Agriculture department spokesperson, the wheat sowing season in rain-fed areas was from October 15 to November 15. Farmers have been advised to cultivate approved varieties including Shiraz-23, Urooj-22, Nishan-21, MA-21, Markaz-19, Barani-17, Fateh Jang-16 and Pakistan-13. The department recommended using 40 to 50 kilograms of seed per acre for wheat cultivation in rain-fed areas. The germination rate of the seed should not be less than 85 percent; otherwise, farmers should proportionately increase the seed quantity. The spokesperson further advised farmers to treat wheat seed with an appropriate fungicide before sowing, in consultation with local agricultural experts of the Punjab Agriculture department, to protect the crop from various diseases.