Cotton cultivated on 4.5m acres

Cotton cultivation has been successfully undertaken on over 4.5 million acres of land in the Punjab after a gap of 10 years. In a meeting held at the Chief Minister office on Saturday, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi reviewed the cotton sowing report and expressed satisfaction over the increased cultivation of cotton. He emphasised the need for effective management to maximise cotton production and directed a crackdown on fake pesticides across the province. Naqvi also announced the establishment of monitoring cells in three divisions to oversee cotton-related matters. Additionally, a Command and Control Centre will be set up in the office of the Additional Secretary of Agriculture (South Punjab). The CM stressed that the provincial government is committed to ensuring fair prices for cotton cultivators, highlighting that increased cotton cultivation will not only benefit farmers but also save precious foreign exchange. During the meeting, it was reported that the cotton sowing targets had been achieved in various districts, with 100% target accomplishment in Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Sargodha. Multan had achieved 96% of the target, while Bahawalpur and DG Khan had achieved 92% and 96% respectively. The chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board also briefed the attendees on the development of an online registration and reporting system for cotton farmers. Field Assistants will provide advisory services through a mobile application, overseeing cotton cultivation and facilitating prompt measures to combat pests in the fields. Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2023.

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