LAHORE: Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation (PBHF) in collaboration with the rice industry stakeholders has launched ‘Kashtkar Facilitation Centres’ to provide quality inputs, financial solutions and promoting mechanization in order to boost rice per acre yield in the province especially of Basmati variety.

Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Hussain Jehanian Gardezi inaugurated the one of such centre in Kamoke  at galaxy rice mills recently and appreciated the intervention saying that it complement the government efforts to include private sector for boosting the agricultural sector’s productivity.

Gardezi said that the incumbent government is utilizing all the available resources to bring in a revolution in the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the national economy.    

Asad Rehman Gillani Secretary Agriculture Punjab speaking on this occasion shared the impact of agriculture on overall economy of the country. He congratulated the farmers for setting highest records of yield in rice and wheat. He assured farmer for providing full support to uplift small farmers.  

Dr. M. Azeem Khan Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council highlighted adoption rate of mechanization under PM Emergency Program to drive scale. He further briefed that through public private partnership small holders will enable to adopt climate smart sustainable agricultural practices in rice. He further shared that although the yield of rice increased 30% in last 40 years but yield gap still is more than 50 % between potential and actual. He underlined the productivity enhancement project under the PM Emergency Program.  

Dr. Anjum Ali Buttar DG Agri. Extension & Adaptive Research shared about the project “National Program for Enhancing Profitability through Increasing Productivity of Rice” in 15 rice districts of Punjab. He further highlighted the subsidies on fertilizers, rice transplanters, certified seed and rice specialized harvesters in addition of interest free loans. Ch. Rafiq Director Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku also shared insights on the scope & potential of Basmati rice.  

Rana Umar Nazir Khan, a Progressive Farmer gave his feedback and endorsed the success story of Farmer Connect Program. He paid his gratitude for bringing international funded projects for welfare of small farmers. He revealed that project under the project farmers were able to save 25% of water along with 30% increase in net income. 

Imran Sheikh Project Manager WAPRO & National Coordinator (PBHF) welcoming the distinguished guests shared the importance of global rice standard of Sustainable Rice Platform (co-convened by UNE & IRRI) for promoting climate smart agriculture and improving water productivity in rice sector of Pakistan.