MOHMAND: The use of vertical and tunnel farming has enabled farmers in Mohmand to make better use of limited land and cultivate vegetables during the off-season, an agriculture official said on Saturday.
Talking to Dawn, district director agriculture Mohammad Waqas said the agriculture department has introduced protected farming techniques in different parts of the district including Ambar and Safi tehsils, where farmers have been provided with net houses and various types of tunnels.
‘Tomatoes, cucumbers, bitter gourds and other vegetables are being grown under these facilities,’ Mr Waqas said, adding that the initiative was aimed at equipping local farmers with practical technology to improve production.
He said tunnel farming provided a more suitable environment for off-season vegetable cultivation and could help farmers increase productivity while making more efficient use of available farmland.
The department, he said, had trained around 200 farmers in vertical andtunnel farming techniques. It had also distributed fruit-fly traps and beneficial insects among growers to promote environmentally friendly pest management and reduce dependence on insecticides.
Mr Waqas said the department was also working on a track-and-trace system for Farm Services Centres to improve the monitoring and delivery of agricultural input s.
He said digital farmer registration had been launched and urged farmers across the district to get themselves registered.
The system, he added, would facilitate access to government subsidies and other agricultural support, while fertiliser distribution would also be linked to farmer registration.
Regarding fertiliser supplies, Mr Waqas said the government had imposed certain restrictions on the distribution of urea and other fertilisers and that efforts were under way to restore regular supplies.
He said the Agriculture Department would continue to support farmers through modern technology, technical training and sustainable farming practices to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen farming-based livelihoods in the district.