Although, Rabi Season 2010-11 had started in Sindh province from October 01, but the federal government is yet to announce loan facility for farmers of flood affected areas. Sources in Sindh Agriculture Department told Business Recorder that Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC), which met on October 17 under the chairmanship of Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, had decided incentive of Rs 2400 on per 12.5 acres of farm land.
It was also decided to provide loan facility for the growers having agricultural land above 12.5 acres, they added. They said the ECC had decided to provide loans to the growers of flood-hit areas at much lower interest rates. However, federal minister announced loans for the growers at 8 percent interest rate. Despite Centre decision, the growers have failed to get loans at low interest rates from the banks, they said.
They said the sowing process for coming Rabi crop has almost completed in all parts of the province and would be completed in few days to come, but the farmers were still looking for Centre's announcement of loans to the growers. In some cases, the growers had sown the seeds and now awaiting for loans under 'one time incentive package' of federal government to purchase fertiliser for crop, they said.
However, Sindh Agriculture Department has expressed displeasure on Centre's 'one time incentive package' for farmers of flood affected areas. Officials in Sindh Agriculture Department told Business Recorder that the provincial government had proposed Rs 6100 on per acre of cultivatable land and interest free loans to compensate farmers of flood affected areas. The announced package could enable farmers to buy just single bag of urea or seeds for a six-month Rabbi Season, they added.
"To enhance production targets during current Rabi season, the Sindh government had asked the Centre for interest free loan of Rs 10,000 per acre of farm land, they said, adding that interest free loan was only solution to increase area of cultivation and recovery of the damaged agricultural land." Like this, this was also proposed to the federal government to share the burden of interest rate, equally, they added.
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