The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has taken a significant step to fortify the agricultural sector by conducting targeted training sessions for 1,460 sugarcane growers. The training, part of the ‘Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Programme,’ focused on equipping farmers with knowledge and practices to combat sugarcane diseases and enhance pest control.

By implementing advanced agricultural techniques, the ministry seeks to empower farmers to achieve greater efficiency and productivity in cultivation.

Read: CM approves minimum support price of sugarcane

Launched in 2019 with an allocation of over Rs4.93 billion, the crop productivity enhancement project involves contributions from the federal and provincial governments, farmers, and service providers. The project includes surveys for insect pests, diseases, and nutrient disorders diagnosis, as well as measures to enhance the capacity of biological pest control labs.

DNA sequencing-based identification of sugarcane hybrids, unveiling the ancestry relationship of 58 varieties, and 35 trials of balanced nutrition for sugarcane were conducted under the project. As a result of these efforts, the overall yield increased by 5.7 tonnes per hectare, with Punjab experiencing a remarkable growth of 7.9 tonnes per hectare.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2023.

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