Farmers Advised To Use Certified Wheat Seed In Arid Zone
Punjab Agriculture department advised the farmers in the arid zone (rain-fed areas) to use certified seed of approved wheat varieties to achieve higher per-acre yields. According to a spokesperson of Punjab Agriculture department, the wheat sowing season in rain-fed areas is from October 15 to November 15.
Farmers are recommended to cultivate the following approved varieties:
- Shiraz-23
- Urooj-22
- Nishan-21
- MA-21
- Markaz-19
- Barani-17
- Fateh Jang-16
- Pakistan-13
The department suggests using 40 to 50 kilograms of seed per acre for wheat cultivation in rain-fed areas. The germination rate of the seed should be at least 85%. If it's lower, farmers should increase the seed quantity accordingly.
Additionally, the spokesperson advised treating wheat seed with an appropriate fungicide before sowing, in consultation with local agricultural experts from the Punjab Agriculture department, to protect the crop from diseases.