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ISLAMABAD, Feb 01 (APP):Director General Agriculture Research Punjab Dr Sajid ur Rehman distributed allotment letters among selected farmers for the provision of subsidies under the Ginger Cultivation Promotion Programme, launched as part of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Rs7 billion Agriculture Transformation Plan for the Potohar region.
The allotment letters were distributed during a ceremony held here, which was attended by Additional Director General Agriculture Research Dr Ubaid ur Rehman, Regional Manager/Director Project Management Unit Muhammad Irfan Mann, Assistant Regional Project Management Unit Ayesha Akhtar, Director Vegetable Research Institute Faisalabad Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Principal Scientist Vegetable Research Institute Faisalabad Aamir Latif, Director Centre of Excellence for Olive Research and Training Chakwal Dr Ramzan Ansar, besides a large number of farmers, said a press release here.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Sajid ur Rehman said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had introduced a Rs7 billion Agriculture Transformation Plan specifically for the Potohar region to modernize agriculture and enhance farmers’ income. He said that under this plan, a dedicated programme had been launched to promote ginger cultivation as a high-value cash crop.
He said that under the Ginger Cultivation Promotion Programme, subsidies would be provided to promote ginger cultivation on 100 acres over a period of three years, adding that in the first phase, 10 selected farmers were being facilitated. He said that a subsidy of Rs3.29 million per acre was being provided under the programme.
The DG said that the subsidy package included 100 percent subsidy on quality ginger seed, tunnel structure, shade net and drip irrigation system. He said that ginger offered significantly higher returns compared to traditional crops and noted that Pakistan spends a huge amount every year on the import of ginger, adding that the programme would help reduce imports and improve the livelihood of farmers in the Potohar region.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Vegetable Research Institute Faisalabad Dr Muhammad Iqbal said that the institute was providing practical, hands-on training to farmers on modern ginger cultivation techniques. He said that selected farmers under the programme would be given special technical training to ensure successful and sustainable production.
Principal Scientist, Vegetable Research Institute, Faisalabad Aamir Latif said that the climatic conditions of the Potohar region were highly suitable for ginger cultivation and urged local farmers to adopt the crop to benefit from its strong economic potential.
At the end of the ceremony, Dr Sajid ur Rehman formally distributed allotment letters among the selected farmers under the ginger cultivation subsidy programme.