Representatives of various organisations of growers' have expressed mixed reaction over the Federal Budget 2004-05 announced by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday.
Almost all growers bodies including Farmers Associates Pakistan, Kissan Board Pakistan, Anjuman Kashtkaran, Agriculture Chamber of Commerce and Punjab Water Council have called an emergent meeting to be held here at KBP's central office on Sunday, June 13, to discuss the budget and firm up views over it.
Muhammad Sadiq Khan Khakwani President Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) told Business Recorder that future of the country depends upon agriculture sector, hence the government must announce concrete steps for the promotion of this vital sector instead of mere lip service in this regard.
He asked the government to wage dedicated efforts for the betterment of the agriculture sector of Pakistan.
Muhammad Yousaf Ihsan Khokhar, chairman Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) in his reaction said it is unfortunate that Finance Minister has not announced any step to provide relief to poultry industry of Pakistan. He alleged that claims of present government regarding taking measures for the betterment of agriculture sector are not based on reality.
He was of the view that budget speech of Shaukat Aziz was disappointing for those associated with poultry sector of Pakistan. He regretted that proposals submitted by Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) for uplift of poultry sector have not been given any consideration. He said that poultry industry mainly consists of small farmers but the incentives announced in the budget will only benefit feudal and landlords. We are calling an emergent meeting of the association to chalk out future strategy over indifferent attitude of the government towards poultry sector, he added.
Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, chairman Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) in his reaction said it seems that the government is only providing protection to 'formulation industry'. He was of the view that manufacturing industry of pesticides must be protected as against imported pesticides.
Muhammad Idrees, an agriculture expert and member of a leading grower's organisation said that the speech of finance minister contains both good and bad points as far as agriculture sector is concerned.
He said that government has failed to announce any specific step for seed sector, agriculture marketing, dairy sector and fisheries sector. He said that removal of GST on agri inputs was an old demand of growers, which was not totally fulfilled. The government has not given break up of 21 billion of rupees allocated for water sector, he added.
He further said that mark up for agri sector was announced as 9 percent while non agri sector is getting loan at around 4-5 interest rate. He appreciated the decision of leasing facility for agri machinery, issuance of agricultural credit cards, abolition of land revenue act for agricultural bank consumers, and reduction in power tariff for agriculture sector.
Hamid Malhi, president Punjab Water Council said that federal budget has disappointed the growers of the province. He added that tractors of 30-horse power are not workable in Pakistani agricultural fields and tractors beyond 60-horse power are not affordable for the growers of Pakistan.
He was of the view that relief in power tariff for agriculture is insufficient as out of 700,000 tubewells in Pakistan only 10 percent tubewells are running on electricity.
Maqbool Ahmad a progressive grower of Layyah said that the incentives announced by the government for the betterment of agri sector would be enjoyed by landlords.
Comments
Comments are closed.