Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Forests Malik Ahmad Ali has distributed more than 19,000 precious saplings of olive, grapes and citrus imported from Spain, Turkey and other developed countries among more than 64 registered nursery owners of district Chakwal.
At the saplings plantation ceremony, the Minister said Punjab government was fully aware of the problems of farmers and nursery owners which included increasing prices of diesel, electricity and fertilisers. He said Punjab government was taking revolutionary steps by giving subsidy on green tractor scheme, bio-gas plants and other agriculture implements for the prosperity of farmers and uplift of agriculture.
While paying tributes to agri scientists and Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (Pamco), Malik Ahmad Ali said Punjab government was ready to help them and had also taken practical steps and today’s function was a proof to it. Pamco Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Imran Amjad said that Pamco was making efforts for giving progressive approach to the farmers and harmonising them with modern demands.
He added new varieties would be helpful in increasing the production of farmers. Director Bari Institute, Dr Tariq, addressing the function said that quality fruit would be available to the locals due to distribution of those saplings by Punjab government and farmers and the country would become prosperous.
Later, talking to media-men, Provincial Livestock Minister said that every step of Punjab government was aimed at making the four districts of Potohar region an olive valley under its economic programme as the research of our agriculture scientists had proved that if farmers were provided proper training and the precious saplings of olive were provided in the beginning, the dream of making Potohar region an olive valley would soon be materialised. Officers of Agriculture Department, Pemco, experts of fruits and vegetables of Agriculture University Faisalabad as well as more than 100 farmers attended the function.
