Cotton Advisory Expert Group, FFC to be set up across Punjab

LAHORE: In order to achieve the cotton production target, Punjab government has decided to establish “Cotton Advisory Expert Group and Farmer Facilitation Center” (FFC) at division level across the province.

These FFC will provide technical guidance and opportunities to the farmers for management of better cotton crop.

This was disclosed by Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo here on Monday at Civil Secretariat. Cotton Advisory Expert Group will be consisted of academia, scientists, ginners and representatives from Kisan organisations, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and they will play their positive and result-oriented role in increasing cotton per acre yield.

Secretary said that better management is necessary to achieve the cotton production target which requires more efforts.

He directed the officers of Agriculture Extension and Pest Warning to conduct raids based on secret information to make the availability of quality agricultural inputs in the market.

Apart from this, he also directed to establish a Kisan Facilitation Center at tehsil level for the farmers across the province where availability of agricultural inputs and machinery will be ensured to the cotton farmers under one window operation.

He further said that all the resources are being utilised by the district administration, field teams to make cotton campaign productive along with extensive use of print, electronic and digital media for technical guidance of the farmers. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo warned that the performance of the officers and field team would be monitored strictly.

Professional negligence on would not be tolerated and strict action will be taken as per the Punjab Employees Discipline Act (PEDA), he concluded.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023