FAISALABAD - Timely and drill sowing, certified seed, balanced use of fertilizer and weed eradication would help increase agricultural productivity from 30 to 50 percent, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He was addressing a seminar held for students leaving for wheat campaign in five divisions of Punjab at Iqbal Auditorium here on Monday. He said that 20,000 UAF students would leave for farmers’ fields in five divisions of the province from November 12 to 20, to disseminate new wheat technologies. 

He said the students would move with Agriculture Extension Department officials and staff during the Punjab Government wheat campaign. He said the proper use of fertilizer would help increase productivity by 15 percent and improve the economic condition of farmers. He said that with drill sowing, the productivity could go up by 20 per cent. 

He stressed upon the need for shunning the broadcasting method of sowing. He said that despite being an agricultural country, more than Rs 10 billion worth of agricultural commodities were being imported which was a matter of grave concern. He said that in 2008-2009, Pakistan imported three million tonnes of wheat. After that, the UAF students went to the villages to villages under wheat campaign and informed the farmers about latest methods, resulted an increase of wheat production five million metric tonnes in 2010.

He said that if a blend of wheat and maize flour was promoted, it would help overcome the malnutrition. He said that Pakistan’s average yield per acre is 31 maunds while progressive farmers were getting up to 60 maund. He said that under the auspices of Punjab government, the winner of wheat competition had got a yield of up to 92 maunds per acre. He said that under the nine-day wheat campaign, three days road show, four days training of farmers, smart farmer gathering and grand rally would be organized.

UAF Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Anas Sarwar said that Punjab accounts for 76% of the national wheat production, whereas, last year wheat was cultivated at an area of 18 million acres in the province which produced up to 21 million metric tonnes. He urged the students to make all possible steps in the wheat campaign to increase per acres yield. He said, “We have to shun the traditional way of farming and shift towards modern agricultural methods”. 

Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof Dr. Amanullah Malik said that better results could be achieved by eradication of weeds. He urged on-field agricultural extension workers and agri students to educate farmers about seed selection, timely sowing, proper use of fertilizers etc so that a new chapter of agricultural and rural development could be opened.  

He said the average production in Faisalabad was 39 maunds per acre while in Chiniot the production was limited to 33 maunds per acre. He said that UAF was taking all possible steps to equip agriculture with new innovations which would not only make the farmers prosperous but also help alleviate poverty. 

Agriculture Extension, Faisalabad Divisional Director Dr. Abdul Hameed, said that the best time to cultivate 

wheat was from November 1 to 20. He said that Punjab Seed Corporation had ample quantity of seeds 

from which farmers should get benefit. He said the Punjab government was implementing schemes to 

provide subsidy on agricultural inputs to farmers, interest free loans and provide modern agricultural 

machinery to ensure the food needs for growing population.

Principal Officer PRP Dr Muhammad Jalal Arif and Agriculture Officer Muhammad Shafiq also spoke.