Global Rice News

Sindh Agriculture Minister Calls for Interest-Free Loans to Students of Sindh Agricultural University

In a recent meeting held at the Sindh Secretariat, Muhammad Bux Mahar, the Sindh Agriculture Minister, announced plans to provide interest-free loans to students of Sindh Agricultural University in Tandojam. This initiative aims to empower the youth of Sindh and enable them to establish their own agricultural businesses. Minister Mahar also mentioned that he will discuss the possibility of a grant with the Chief Minister of Sindh.

During the meeting, Minister Mahar emphasized the importance of addressing climate change and its impact on agriculture. He highlighted the need for a larger budget allocation to support capacity building and provide more training opportunities for agricultural officers. To further enhance the agricultural sector, the Minister urged the Research Wing of the Agriculture Department to develop new varieties of wheat, rice, and sugarcane crops. These varieties would be made available to farmers in the province free of charge.

Director General of Research, Noor Muhammad Baloch, presented an update on the efforts of the Research Wing. He shared that the wing has introduced 13 varieties of wheat, with average yields ranging from 85 to 80 maunds per acre, and 14 varieties of cotton by 2020. Additionally, the Research Wing has introduced 11 varieties of rice, 11 varieties of sugarcane, and 7 varieties of vegetables. These developments are aimed at improving production and quality in the agricultural sector.

In an effort to promote women’s economic empowerment, the Agricultural Research Wing has trained over 300 women at the Institute of Food and Science Technology. These women are equipped with the knowledge and skills to produce agricultural products, enabling them to engage in small businesses from the comfort of their homes.

The meeting was also attended by esteemed individuals such as Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri, Vice Chancellor of Agriculture University Tando Jam, Akbar Ali Zardari, and other research officers.

Source: [Nation News](https://www.nation.com.pk){:target=”_blank”}