LAHORE – As many as 500,000 farmers will be trained in application of organic fertilisers so as to enhance production of fruits, said Dr Mubashar Bhatti, managing director of a private company said.
Talking to a delegation of Agriculture Journalists Association led by its president Sudhir Ch, Dr Bhatti said his company will impart the training in collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He told journalists that land acquired by the company along River Sutluj in Kasur District was sandy and yield was very negligible. The company, he added, prepared this land with application of organic fertilizers and now orchards of guava, lemon and other fruits were at full blossom after four years of labour.
He said people were falling sick because of using fruits being produced by application of synthetic fertilizers and using medicines worth Rs two billion daily.
He said that they were in negotiation process with the Zarai Taraqiati Bank and other financial institutions including some international donor agencies.
Chairman Syed Babar Shah said that use of organic fertilizers was on the rise throughout the world and our company was importing natural liquid fertilizer to increase yield. He said that over seven million acres of land was lying barren in the Punjab province which could be turned in to green arable land in next few years to ensure food security.
He said that the Punjab province was providing grain to whole of the country but there is a need to bring more land under cultivation to feed the increasing mouths. He pledged to make Pakistan green and prosperous in next few years.