Punjab likely to exceed 22.5m MT of wheat production

LAHORE: The Punjab province is expecting to exceed 22.5 million metric tons of wheat production this year, claims a survey carried out by the Punjab Agriculture department. The Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo revealed this while chairing an important meeting regarding wheat and cotton held in Multan on Friday. The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Asif Ali, Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Syed Hassan Raza, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha, Director Generals of the Agriculture Department Punjab Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, and Dr Aamir Rasool, while other officers participated online. On the occasion, a detailed review of the current situation of crops, particularly wheat and cotton, was conducted. During the briefing, it was informed that according to field reports, the current condition of the wheat crop is very good. On this occasion, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stated that, according to the final survey, wheat production in Punjab is expected to exceed 22.5 million metric tons. He directed that, in view of the prevailing weather conditions, timely guidance should be provided regarding wheat harvesting, threshing, storage, and transportation so that farmers do not face any difficulties. The meeting also reviewed matters related to cotton cultivation. The secretary Agriculture Punjab further stated that approximately 3.5 million acres of land will be cultivated with cotton in Punjab, and the process of early cotton sowing has entered its final stage. He directed that the target for early cotton cultivation should be achieved by March 31. He further added that, according to the international scenario, there are strong prospects for stability and an increase in cotton prices; therefore, the best-developed strategy for seasonal cotton cultivation should be adopted, and timely guidance should be provided regarding stage-wise crop management. Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo also informed that a project worth approximately Rs 2 billion has been launched to develop Bahawalpur Division into a “Cotton Valley.” He stated that under this project, a subsidy of Rs 120,000 per unit is being provided for chisel ploughs, Rs 50,000 per farm is being given for establishing cotton model farms, and a subsidy of Rs 25,000 per unit is being provided for power sprayers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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