Punjab government has launched a five-year programme at a cost of 6.63 billion rupees to enhance profitability through increasing rice yield in fifteen districts of the province.

Agriculture department sources told APP today that under the programme, special attention is being focused on promotion of mechanized farming in these districts.

The project is being carried out in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Okara, Hafizabad, Nankana Sahib, Bahawalnager, Jhang, Narowal, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, Gujrat, Lahore and Faisalabad districts.

Seventy thousand acres of land would be brought under rice cultivation in these districts.

Under the programme, the government would provide subsidy and other facilities to the rice growers.

NNR/ Ahsan