Punjab government has reactivated and empowered Punjab Agriculture Research Board (Parb) in order to corporatise research on major crops by including private stakeholders in its decision making. Planning and development department sources told APP here on Monday that agri research system in the province is being improved to give impetus to the agriculture sector, which is pivotal to the economy and contributes about 54 percent to the gross provincial product. Sources admitted that the agriculture sector remained on the decline due to neglect, while its contribution to the national economy was not improving either. With more funds at its disposal, the corporatised Punjab Agriculture Research Board will be able to modernise the farming sector and undertake research. The government's role would be mainly supervision, so that it keeps a check on the overall system, it was learnt. The board will be able to conduct research on competitive basis in the areas prioritised, including major crops such as rice, cotton, sugarcane, citrus and mango to achieve better output. Punjab government is taking several initiatives to optimise agriculture resource use, particularly fertiliser and improved quality seed, promote farm mechanisation, plant protection and access to agricultural inputs, especially credit. Other potential areas to increase agriculture productivity and production include promotion of non-traditional agriculture products, eg off-season vegetables and livestock, sources said. Under government priority for rural development, several major initiatives have been completed, including electrification of villages, which has grown at a rate of 11 percent. After 2002, the network of farm-to-market roads has grown at a rate of 9.5 percent per annum, thus strengthening links between rural areas and urban centres. These developments are particularly conducive to the promotion of agro-based and cottage industries in rural areas, sources told APP. Punjab government is also focusing on reforms in the land-record system through computerisation of the records to improve enforcement of contracts, simplify land deal procedures, improve use of land as collateral, and bar the jurisdiction of civil courts in revenue matters. Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2008