KARACHI: Welcoming the increase in the cultivation of mustard, sesame and canola crops, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said the provincial government is taking practical measures to provide financial assistance to farmers, reduce agricultural costs and increase local agricultural production.

`An increase in the local production of edible oil will help reduce dependence on imports, save the country`s foreign exchange and increase farmers` income,` he said.According to a statement issued here on Monday, the minister said that the area under mustard cultivation in Sindh has increased from 51,870 hectares to 61,165 hectares, while an increase in the cultivation of sesame and canola has also been recorded.

`There are vast opportunities to promote mustard cultivation in the lower Sindh areas, and by taking advantage of these opportunities, agricultural production can be further increased,` he said.

Providing financial assistance to farmers, subsidies on fertilisers, promotion of modern agricultural machinery and effective utilisationof irrigation resources had been included among the government`s priorities, he said.

Mr Memon said financial assistance is being provided to farmers through the Benazir Hari Card, while subsidies on DAP fertiliser are also being provided under the additional relief package of Rs14.9 billion for farmers.

The Sindh government would continue its measures to support farmers, strengthen the agricultural sector and increase local production so that farmers can prosper and the country can reduce its dependence on edible oilimports.