University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan on Monday called for ensuring quality and disease-resilient seed in fields in order to increase productivity and farmer income that will bring prosperity in the country.
He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad led by Secretary General M Umair Masood at his chamber. He said that the government was taking the revolutionary measures to uplift the sector and address the problems of the farming community. He said that agricultural sector is the backbone of our economy and contributes 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. He said that poverty alleviation was directly linked to the sector as majority of population was associated with agriculture. Lauding the government’s initiatives, he said that the government had brought ‘Kissan Package to give relief to farming community, enabling them to cultivate the crops and to address their problems. He said that the government had reduced the prices of inputs and lower down the prices of electricity for the farmers that will cut the cost of production. He said that Punjab agricultural policy was being revamped to address the problems of the farming community and increase the productivity for the population. He said that farmers were facing the different challenges including less profit, low productivity, water scarcity and seed etc. M Umair Masood said stressed upon the need to redress the woes of the faming. He said that adoption of new technology was vital to uplift the sector. Promotion of quality seed will help increase the productivity manifold. He said that the country was blessed with the marvelous resources. There is a need to tap the potential.