The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has said that Agriculture sector recorded a remarkable growth of 3.81 percent and surpassed its targeted growth of 3.5 percent and last year's growth of 2.07 percent.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, PAD spokesman quoting the Economic Survey Report 2017-18, claimed that the crop sector performed well and witnessed a growth rate of 3.83 percent against the last year's growth of 0.91 percent. This stemmed from higher yields, attractive output prices and supportive government policies, better availability of certified seeds, pesticides, agriculture credit and intensive fertilizers off take.
The growth in sub sectors, important crops, other crops and cotton ginning registered a significant growth of 3.57 percent, 3.33 percent and 8.72 percent respectively against last year growth of 2.18 percent, -2.66 percent and 5.58 percent respectively. Major Kharif crops such as Sugarcane, Rice surpassed their production targets during 2017-18 by recording growth of 7.45 percent and 8.65 percent respectively while Cotton crop production managed to exceed last year's production leveled by recording growth of 11.85 percent.
Other crops having share of 10.80 percent in Agriculture value addition and contribute 2.04% in GDP, grew by 3.33 percent on the back of increase in production of fodder, vegetables and fruits.
Spokesman further says that to sustain agriculture growth rate, Government of Punjab has planned to pin agriculture sector on pure scientific basis. So, keeping in view, farmers are now being empowered by inclusion of digital and financial inclusion.
Through Connected Agriculture Platform Punjab (CAPP) department is providing extension services to the farming community through specialized Apps of smartphone and 110,000 registered farmers are being given such smartphones in Punjab.
For immediate relief of cotton growers, government is providing approved varieties of cotton seed up to 50 percent subsidized rate and also providing subsidy voucher @Rs 700 per cotton bag to core area of cotton growers. More than Rs 14 million is being spent for provision of agricultural machinery to cotton growers.
To save cotton crop against Pink Bollworm attack, Rs 96.2 million spent on PB Ropes that was installed on 50 districts of Punjab on 50 acre blocks. What is more, Government of Punjab provided 110,000 smart phones to the farmers equipped with special applications through which extension services are being provided to cotton growers and other crops.
For Cotton high yield seed production Rs 350.889 million is being spent on "Commissioned Research Program". For White fly control, Government of Punjab is spending Rs 39.612 million to provide genetic modified varieties of cotton crop. In nut shell, Government of Punjab is taking many steps to put agriculture sector on path of profitability.
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