Ministry, NARC Directed To Rescue Dying Corn Crop

Ministry, NARC directed to rescue dying corn crop

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Thursday directed the concerned ministry and National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) to take necessary measures to rescue the dying crop of corn in various districts of Punjab

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2019 ):The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Thursday directed the concerned ministry and National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) to take necessary measures to rescue the dying crop of corn in various districts of Punjab.

The committee, which met under Chairmanship of Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, was of the view that if timely assistance was not provided to the farmers, the country would be in shortage of corn.

The Chairman of the Committee pointed out that reportedly ten thousand acres of corn crop had been destroyed.

The Committee also directed NARC to collect samples of potatoes from all the potato growing areas and conduct immediate study to control the scab disease.

The committee desired NARC to give a presentation on the developed new seeds of the crops and introduction of genetically modified seeds in the country.

Meanwhile, the committee constituted a 4-member Sub-Committee under the Convenership of Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf to discuss and submit its report on "The Chamber of Agriculture Bill, 2019" to the Standing Committee within 30 days.

The Committee while discussing implementation status of its previous recommendations directed Zarai Taraqaiti Bank Limited (ZTBL) to relocate its existing branches in District Ranjanpur for convenience of the general public.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Shaukat Ali, Ahmed Hussain Deharr, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Ahmad Raza Maneka, Chaudry Muhammad Ashraf, Choudhary Faqir Ahmad, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi, Kamal Uddin, Riaz Fatyana and other officials of the ministry of National Food Security and Research and Senior Officers of the concerned departments.