PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Agriculture Major (retd) Sajjad Barakwal said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Seed Council approved cultivation of a better variety of seed, and revolutionary measures have been taken in the agricultural sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur.
The 45th meeting of the Provincial Seed Council, chaired by Provincial Minister for Agriculture Major (retd) Sajjad Barakwal, was held in Peshawar. The meeting approved the cultivation of new seeds of various fruits, vegetables, oil seeds, tea and crops.
Detailed briefing on the production of each seed, suitable areas for cultivation, resistance to diseases and other related matters were held. On this occasion, 53 seeds were considered in the Provincial Seed Council meeting, and 38 batches were approved for cultivation. Provincial Minister for Agriculture Major (retd) Sajjad Barakwal approved seeds, which include four varieties of corn and one variety each of rice and wheat.
He said that in the fruit category, kiwi, apricot, Approval for cultivation of two varieties of grapes, two varieties of plums, one variety of pecan, fig, plum were approved while in vegetable category, two varieties of okra, three varieties of tomato, and one variety of onion and spinach have been approved – Approval of ten varieties of batches in the oilseed category – Sajjad Barakwal.
He added that two varieties of tea seeds have also been approved by the council, and the services of private seed companies in the preparation of new batches are commendable. The government is ready to provide all kinds of support to the private sector in the development of seeds.
Barakwal added that availability of better batches will be ensured for the landowners so that their per-acre production could be increased. He said research centres should conduct research according to the crops of their respective areas and introduce better varieties.
He pointed out that awareness should be created among the landowners regarding the correct cultivation of varieties. Provincial Seed Council meeting also attended by Secretary Agriculture Anbar Ali Khan, Director General Agricultural Research Dr. Abdul Rauf, Director General Agriculture Extension Murad Ali, Provincial Seed Council members, directors of agricultural research centres, and representatives of private seed companies attended the meeting.
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