MULTAN: A high-level agriculture meeting on Friday projected a bumper wheat crop in Punjab and reviewed the ongoing cotton sowing across the province.
The meeting estimated that wheat production in Punjab is likely to exceed 22.5 million metric tons this year.
According to field reports, the current condition of the wheat crop is very good, and the final survey indicates a higher-than-expected yield.
The officials directed that, in view of prevailing weather conditions, farmers should be provided timely guidance on wheat harvesting, threshing, storage, and transportation to prevent any difficulties.
The meeting also discussed cotton cultivation, noting that approximately 3.5 million acres of land will be brought under cotton farming in Punjab.
It was highlighted that the process of early cotton sowing is in its final stage, with a target to complete it by March 31.
Participants observed that, in light of the international market situation, cotton prices are expected to remain stable with a possible upward trend.
Therefore, a well-planned strategy for seasonal cotton cultivation should be adopted, along with timely guidance for stage-wise crop management.
The meeting was informed that a project worth approximately Rs 2 billion has been launched to develop Bahawalpur Division into a “Cotton Valley.”
Under this initiative, subsidies are being provided, including Rs 120,000 per unit for chisel ploughs, Rs 50,000 per farm for establishing cotton model farms, and Rs 25,000 per unit for power sprayers. Punjab Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Saho chaired the meeting at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA).
The meeting was attended by MNSUA Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ali, Special Secretary Agriculture (South Punjab) Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Syed Hassan Raza, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha, and Director Generals of the Agriculture Department Punjab Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, and Dr Aamir Rasool, while other officers participated online.
