Punjab to replace farm machinery to avoid post-harvest losses

LAHORE:Modern technology is being introduced according to the contemporary requirements for agricultural development in the province. In the first phase, brand new 1,000 wheat and 1,000 rice harvesters will be imported. Farm mechanisation is an efficient way to increase the agricultural production.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said this while chairing a high-level meeting here Tuesday. The measures for the use of wheat and rice harvesting machinery were also reviewed in the meeting.

Sahoo said that 10 to 15 percent of the wheat and rice are being wasted due to the use of old harvesters. The service providers should come forward to introduce new harvesters in the province.

He added that the Department of Agriculture would provide all possible support to the service providers for the import of new harvesters. Using new harvesters will automatically reduce and eventually eliminate the use of old harvesters. The cost of running will be less and their performance will be better in terms of minimising post-harvest losses. Punjab Agriculture Department Consultant Dr M Anjum Ali, Agricultural Information Punjab DG Naveed Ismat Kahlon and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Workshop on e-procurement

Under the chairmanship of Commissioner Lahore Zaid bin Maqsood, a two days e-procurement divisional training workshop was held at in e-Library Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. PPRA DG Waqar Azim and DG PITB Sajid Latif, Director Development Javed Rashid Chauhan, Deputy Director Tariq Ali, Assistant Director Development Lahore Division Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal participated. Grade 17 and 18 officers of Lahore division participated in e-procurement (e-tendering) training workshop of Lahore Division. Commissioner Lahore said that on the instructions of the chief secretary, the training workshop was organised for the implementation of e-procurement in the divisions and districts.

From July 1, 2024, all procuring agencies will do e-procurement, he said adding now procurement would not be manual and transparency would be established through

e-procurement through online system.

Commissioner Lahore said that e-tendering (e-procurement) would now be done through registration and process on the main portal of PPRA. Commissioner Lahore said that focal persons have been nominated for e-procurement and e-tendering.