LAHORE - Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed has said that government has constituted high powered committees at divisional level to address grievances under Kissan package.
He said that committees will consider all applications submitted till February 29 and will complete its task by March 10 positively.
The minister in his statement said on Sunday that government will ensure fare distribution of each rupee announced in Kissan package. He said that due to some complaints in particular district we have constituted these committees and strict action would be taken against responsible in the light of committees' decision.
Dr Farrukh Javed said that no negligence will be tolerated in dispensing justice to farming community. He said that the government is working on the policy to modernize Agriculture Department. We have taken suggestions from all the stakeholders for finalizing the future strategy, he added. The Minister said that Punjab is self-sufficient in terms of food production and we are looking for ways to increase per acre yield with the use of modern technology. More than one lakh metric tons of potatoes have been exported to Russia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka during current season, he added.
He said that the department is working on supply chain project to introduce local products in international markets. He said that prices in local markets have stabilized due to timely export of potatoes. He said that we are in contact with Afghanistan to remove its import duty in potato import after which Pakistani potatoes will be available in Afghanistan's markets. He said that government is sending millions of rupees on providing modern tools to farmers for better yields.
Dr Farrukh Javed urged the farmers to submit their complaints regarding Kissan package in respective offices of Assistant Commissioner, District Coordination offices or Commissioner Office before February 29 so that their complaints be addressed.
The agriculture experts on Sunday stressed for announcing bailout package for cotton farmers, affected by collapse of crop which is the mainstay of economy.
"Disappointed farmers are switching to other crops which can reduce area under cotton cultivation by 20 percent which will further bring production down", Chairman of the United International Group Mian Shahid said in a statement here on Sunday.
He said that textile sector would be hard pressed as US $ 4 billion would be needed to import cotton which would adversely affect forex reserves and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said that textile and cotton exports helped the country earn $12 billion while it provided jobs to millions which deserved urgent action in this regard.
The main reason behind cotton collapse has been attributed to substandard imported seed which was not immune from pest attack and absence of any spray to kill pink bollworm which destroyed 60 percent of the crop, he added.
He also blamed reduced cotton prices at home and on the international market which had proved to be another disadvantage for the millions of farmers depending on cotton crop as they continue to pay heavy input prices.
Persistent rains this season restricted the pesticides resulting in sharp fall in output which was beyond the control of anyone but use of BT seeds can controlled, he opined. Mian Shahid asked the provincial and federal governments to bailout cotton sector for reviving the sector.