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STAFF REPORT ISB: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is making strenuous efforts to boost oilseed cultivation and enhancing domestic production in the country keeping in view the chronic deficiency of edible oil and huge amount of import bill.
In this regard, the Council has launched a promotional campaign working on Oilseeds Cultivation in Pothowar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions during Rabi 2014-15.
This initiative has been taken in consultation of the Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Provincial Agriculture Research and Extension Departments.
According to the action plan, canola hybrid seed will be provided to farmers on less price, seed drills designed for canola will be provided to farmers for planting seed in optimum depth and moisture to achieve plant stand and higher production; PARC scientists and field staff of PODB, NRSP and Provincial Agriculture Research and Extension Departments will provide technical guidance to farmers.
Recently, Dr Azeem Khan, DG National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), has presided over a meeting for promotion of canola cultivation in Pothowar and KP on 15,000 – 20,000 acres of land during coming Rabi season 2014-15. The experts said that traditional rapeseed mustard are being cultivated in the country for the last many centuries, therefore, there is a strong need to create awareness among farmers for planting of canola type rapeseed.