KBP for fixation of support prices afresh

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) presenting a charter of demand which include fresh fixation of support prices of wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton and tobacco, has warned the government to stage a protest demonstration on October 25, 2018, at Pattoki.

It said that the government should immediately withdraw GST from the agricultural inputs including fertilizer, seed, agricultural implements and pesticides. The Board also urged that wheat support price should be fixed at Rs1500 per maund, Irri rice at Rs1600 per maund, Basmati at Rs2500 per maund, sugarcane at Rs250 per maund, cotton Rs4000 per maund and tobacco support price should be fixed at Rs220 per kilograms.

Expressing its dismay over the performance of the new government with regard to solving the problems faced by the agriculture sector, the Board office-bearers alleged that the sector is lacking attention of the sitting rulers.

KBP Secretary General Chudhary Shaukat Ali Chaddhar, Central Secretary Information Haji Muhamamd Ramzan and others while addressing a press conference on Thursday also demanded that fertilizer rate should be printed on each bag, small dams should be constructed in the country, water should be ensured to the growers at the tail of the canal system and strict legislation should be enacted to stop water stealing.

They alleged that the cane commissioner office was not working properly and the mills still had to pay the dues from the 2017-18 and 2016-17 season. They said that the government should ensure implementation on Sugar Factories Control Act and the cane commissioner should ensure that crushing should be started between October 15 and November 15. They said that no sugar mill had so far issued notice as to when they will start crushing in Sindh, KPK or Punjab. "As per rules, they had to issue a one-month advance notice of start of crushing," they added.

The farmers' representatives also urged the government to take notice of hike in the prices of fertilizer. They said this was the peak season for DAP fertilizer application when growers were preparing their lands for wheat sowing, but the DAP bag which was available at Rs2500 per bag some one month back is now being sold at Rs3800 per bag. Similarly, they said that Urea's officially notified price is Rs1400 per bag which was now available at Rs1750 per bag. They questioned that why the government was keeping a mum on this price hike. They also urged the government for providing quality seed at reasonable prices.

They alleged that Canola seed is being sold at Rs1400 per bag against the notified price of Rs960 per bag. They also complained that the government should take action against sudden crashing of prices of the agricultural commodities.