Caretaker Federal Minister Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik presided over a meeting regarding enhancement of productivity of wheat, rice and sugarcane here at Ministry of National Food Security & Research on Thursday. Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Project Director (Rice) Dr. Ashiq Rabbani, Project Director (Wheat) Dr. Muhammad Yaqoob and Acting Project Director (Sugar Crops) Dr. Sagheer Ahmed were also present on occasion. Federal Minister Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik said that agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy, Obstacles in agriculture projects will be removed on priority basis so that projects of national and public interest can be completed as soon as possible. He said that Obstacles in agriculture projects will be removed on priority basis Obstacles in agriculture projects will be removed on priority basis While giving a briefing, the Federal Minister was apprised that 4 million tons of wheat production capacity has been increased, which has a 400 billion rupees financial benefit, productivity of wheat has increased from 28 to 32 maunds per acre, the project to increase the productivity of wheat and reduce the productivity gap was launched at a cost of 30,455.353 million rupees, in which the federal government has 5,632.774 million rupees, the provincial governments have 12,526.591 rupees, while the farmers and service providers have 12,295.985 rupees shares, 9,800 Germ plasm acquisition, distribution and evaluation have been done, 180 NUWYT/adaptability trials at various locations, 620 quality wheat seed production, 8000 Germ plasm development/evaluation, 2000 elite lines developed and tested, 5000 genotype screening against wheat diseases, 800 germ plasm screening for drought, salt heat tolerance, developed 18 wheat characterization protocols. The Director further informed that labs/research facilities of Speed Breeding Glasshouse, Wheat Research Program, NARC, Up-gradation of research facility and glasshouse, CDRI, Karachi, Up-gradation of lab, CDRI, NARC, Strengthening the existing wheat rust research facilities CDRI, Murree, Up-gradation of greenhouse and lab facility, Plant Physiology Program, Up-gradation of lab facility, FSRI, NARC, Purchase of farm machinery, Wheat Research Program, NARC have also completed. Project Director Dr. Ashiq Rabbani, while giving a briefing to the Federal Minister, Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik, said the project was launched in 2019 at a cost of 15,789,402 million rupees under the Prime Ministerial Agriculture Emergency Program to Develop climate resilient, high yielding, short statured, early maturing rice varieties, Popularize machinery, improved varieties & fertilizer use via subsidy/demonstration, demonstrate mechanized production technology for planting/water saving/harvesting and to improve rice production through farmers awareness/promotional activities. He informed that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, in the year 2021-22, not only the production of rice has increased to 9.32 million tons, but rice worth 2.5 billion US dollars has been exported, around 50% subsidy has been given on best varieties of seed, fertilizers and weedicide including farmers' machinery, in the said project, the federal government has Rs. 3750.660 million, the provincial governments have Rs. 7568.102 million while the farmers and service providers have a share of Rs. 4470.640 million shares, national production has increased from 2.4 to 2.6 tones per hectare, Basmati production to 43 maunds per acre in 2021-22, while rice production has increased by 12% at project sites. The project director added that 2500 liters of water is required for one kg of rice, but through Alternate wetting & Drying technology we can save 45% of water, farmers can save 5 to 8 thousand rupees per acre by reducing the cost of electricity and fuel and methane gas emissions can be reduced under the same AWD technology. While giving a briefing pertaining to increase in sugarcane production, Acting Project Director Sugar Crops Dr. Sagheer Ahmed informed the Caretaker Federal Minister for Food Security and Research, that the project regarding productivity enhancement of sugarcane was launched in 2019 at a cost of 4934.225 million rupees, of which the federal government has Rs. 1004 million, the provincial governments have Rs. 2889 million, while farmers and service providers have a share of Rs. 1044 million rupees. The APD further informed that 61 Surveys for insects-pests, diseases and nutrient disorders diagnosis have been conducted, 1460 people were trained on sugarcane disease, Capacity enhanced of existed biological pest control labs in Public & Pvt. Sector, DNA sequencing based identification conducted of sugarcane hybrids and unveiled of ancestry relationship of 58 varieties, 35 trials of balanced nutrition of sugarcane were conducted. He further informed that Overall yield increase during project is 5.7 ton/ha while only in Punjab is 7.9 ton/ha (79.0 Maund/Acre) over the target of 19.8 t/ha (200 Maund/acre) <><><><><><>
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