Punjab Government is mulling to shortly launch import and locally manufacturing of small implements to enable the small farmers to arrest the swelling cost of production and raise the farm income through promoting rural enterprises in agriculture development (READ) program. Said additional secretary agriculture planning Rao Atif Raza here at Syndicate Hall of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during a stakeholders meeting.

The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asif Tanvir and participated by Dean Sciences Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiq Butt, Dean Faculty of Agri Engineering & Technology Dr. Muhammad Arshad, Director ORIC Prof Dr. Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Prof. Dr. Allah Bakhash, registrar Mr. Umar Saeed, section officer agriculture planning Dr. Kashif Bashir, policy advisor Mr. Irfan Razzaq, director development Mr. Irfan Abbas, Dr. Yasir Jamil, and other notables. Addressing the participants UAF VC Prof Dr. Asif Tanvir said that it was soothing news that the provincial government was investing 1.263 billion on promoting rural enterprises in agriculture development and spending by offering 50% subsidy a sum of Rs. 548 million on the joint project of import, manufacturing, and reverse engineering of small agricultural implements by UAF and AMRI Multan. He told that there were 18 small implements with UAF that would be locally manufactured in high numbers and some are to be imported from China and other countries and multiplied through reveres engineering. He was of the view that 95 percent of the farmers holding less than 5 acres of land and desperate to make their cultivation profitable and net the growing cost of production. He expressed hope that the project would certainly hold their hands as handy and small implements would serve the cause at a small farm. He underscored the need to conduct demand-driven research thereby serving the society and address their daunting issues. Acclaiming the role of impact factor publications Dr. Asif said that we need not to ignore the ultimate target of making the farming profitable and bringing prosperity in rural life. Additional Secretary Agricultural Planning Rao Atif Raza said the provincial government was mapping out strategies to arrest the cost of production and poverty by encouraging rural enterprises for agricultural development. He stressed the need to make an analysis of the small implements that could be exported to other countries. He asked the policy advisor to take maximum input from the stakeholders to fine-tune the project so that fulfills the needs and its objectives. Dr. Allah Bakhash underscored the need to conduct a survey and explore the need for small implements in various zones of the province that, he hoped would give them a clear picture of need assessment. Dr. Masood Sadiq Butt was of the view that out of rural enterprise project propriety should be given to such enterprises who want to erect their business netting the malnutrition and help the government fulfilling the needs of nutritional food to the masses. Dr. Rafiqur Rehman emphasized establishing a material bank in the project to enable the project team to get or prepare the raw material from the local market.