SIALKOT (February 13 2004): The Sialkot District Government has opted special measures for the promotion and expansion of agriculture on modern and scientific lines in the district.

Official sources told Business Recorder on Thursday the Sialkot district government is spending Rs 20 million during the current fiscal year on the promotion and advancement of the agriculture sector in the district.

The district government has earmarked Rs 111.9 million for the completion of new and ongoing schemes pertaining to farm-to-market roads in Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur tehsils of the district.

The district government had already been deputed the staff of the agriculture department to motivate the growers and farmers for adopting modern agricultural techniques aimed at enhancing per acre yield of different crops in Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur tehsils of the district.

The district government has also decided to provide latest agricultural implements to the growers and for this purpose "agricultural citizens community boards" would be constituted soon in the district, said the sources, adding the Sialkot district government would provide 80 percent funds out of citizens community fund for the purchase of agricultural tools while citizens community boards would collect 20 percent funds locally.

They said the agricultural implements and tools would be provided to the farmers at the union council level on nominal rental basis, adding the step has been taken to bring about big boom in agricultural output in the district.

The Sialkot district government has also taken special steps for curbing the chances of the sale of phony pesticides, fertilisers and adulterated diesel in the district and no slackness of the government staff concerned would be tolerated in this regard, the sources said.

The Sialkot district has been declared as Barani district by the government on the pressing demand of Sialkot district government under which the growers community would be able to benefit of certain concessions.

The agriculture sector is playing an instrumental role in economic stability, and keeping in view the importance of this sector, the Sialkot district government is making strenuous efforts for the redress of problems confronting to growers of Sialkot district.

Courtesy Business Recorder