Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam says significant growth in the produce of five major crops has been recorded in the country during the last year and farmers got benefit of over eleven hundred billion rupees.

Expressing his views at Zarkhaiz Pakistan program of Radio Pakistan in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said wheat produce last year remained over twenty seven million metric tons but we imported additional one point nine million metric tons to ensure strategic reserve of food commodity.

The Minister for National Food Security said cotton produce last year also witnessed increase with nine million bales besides increase in production of sugarcane and Maize.

He said there is a need to advance our expertise and research based education in agriculture sector to compete in the international market with standardization and value added products.

In reply to a question, Fakhar Imam said farmers are being provided Kisan Cards to help them meet their needs regarding seeds, fertilizers and other inputs and so far over seven hundred cards have been distributed.

He further said a commission is also being constituted to accelerate work with the coordination of universities to increase research activities in agriculture sector.

The Minister said the government has also signed a MoU with China to modernize agriculture sector and capacity building of farmers for export of different fruits and commodities.

He said we have also launched cultivation of Soybean to meet our demand of edible oil and seed has been provided for three thousand acres.