Punjab is aiming to cultivate paddy on a staggering five million acres this year, with a concerted effort to enhance rice exports and quality. Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, announced this ambitious target during a Provincial Rice Monitoring Committee meeting held at the Agriculture House.
Iftikhar Ali Sahoo emphasized that achieving a high yield and securing a better price per acre are crucial for the prosperity of farmers. He called on all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring a bumper crop in Punjab. To meet the demands of European and American markets, practical measures must be implemented to align rice production with international standards. The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has been urged to work closely with farmers to ensure top-quality rice production.
The Secretary Agriculture of Punjab also issued a strong directive against the use of agricultural chemicals with harmful post-harvest effects on rice. He stressed the importance of adhering to safe and recommended pesticide practices. The Agriculture Department, REAP, and the pesticide industry are expected to play a proactive role in this regard.
To bolster rice exports, Iftikhar Sahoo instructed that Maximum Residual Level (MRL) standards must be followed and that proper storage practices should be maintained to uphold quality. Field officers have been directed to raise awareness about the responsible use of agricultural pesticides and provide technical guidance on balanced irrigation and input management. By focusing on quality production, the risk of shipment rejections from Europe, America, and other countries can be minimized.
The agriculture house meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Shehanshah Faisal Azeem, Director General Agriculture Extension Abdul Hameed, Director General Agricultural Information Punjab Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Director General Crop Reporting Dr. Abdul Qayyum, and representatives from the pesticide industry and other relevant sectors.
