ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition in the National Assembly Monday assailed the government for neglecting the agriculture sector and demanded immediate measures to save the backbone of the country's economy.
The House initiated debate on the agriculture sector and the Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam, in his opening statement, instead of announcing any relief, advised the government to provide farmers quality seed of major crops such as cotton, wheat, sugarcane and maize on subsidised rates to increase crop production. He also called for the use of modern technology to enhance per acre production and to ultimately boost the country's economy. He said use of quality seed with 80 percent germination capacity could enhance production of cotton bales from nine to 14 billion in the coming years.
The minister said entrepreneurs should be bound to manufacture pesticides and farm machinery in Pakistan in a given timeframe. He said transfer of technology was necessary to save money and enhance quality and production. He proposed that Pakistan, which was importing pesticides from China, should start the local production of the pesticides. He further said that if we import something from abroad we should also make it conditional that the product's manufacturers that it would transfer the technology with a view to start manufacturing completely at the local level after certain years.
He said focus should also be made on genetic engineering and health to boost livestock in the country. He also proposed that the provinces especially, Punjab and Sindh should acquire quality and standardized seed of cotton to be approved by the federal government.
He said that research should be promoted and the benefit of quality research should reach the farmer on the ground, adding that there should also be international-level research institutions in the country to promote the agriculture sector.
He said that the ministry was also in talks with the World Bank for acquiring $200 million for supporting the research activities in the agriculture sector. He pointed out that the livestock sector was adding eight percent to the country's agriculture sector, which needed to be further promoted.
Taking part in the debate, Ali Gohar Khan of the PML-N criticized the reduction of subsidy on electricity for domestic consumers from 300 units to 50 units, "which is injustice with the poor of the country".
"This government has more money for subsidies, but for the sugar mafia. They don't have money for poor of the country," he added.
He maintained that the per unit rate of electricity, which was Rs5 per unit during the PML-N government had now reached more than Rs11 per unit. Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan of the PPP pointed out that the pesticides available in the market were sub-standard and the government should ensure that standardized and quality pesticides were available for the farmers.
Nawab Sher of the PTI suggested that a "chamber of agriculture" should be set up where farmers be given its membership to discus the issues related to the agriculture sector.
He said that reports were coming that the government would import wheat from abroad, adding that the prices of wheat flour would further increase. He demanded that subsidy should be given on fertilizer and the farmers and growers of wheat. Otherwise, he stated that if steps were not taken the farmers would stop growing the wheat.
Ghaus Bakhsh Mahar of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a ruling coalition partner, emphasized that the government should promote research at the federal level and focus should be given to producing quality seeds. He demanded that subsidy should be given on fertilizers and the installation of solar tube wells. He added that if the agriculture sector of the country was affected, it would have serious consequences for the country's economy.
Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema of the PML-N lamented that the PTI government during its past two years did not pay heed to the agriculture sector.
Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali of the PTI pointed out that Balochistan had been completely neglected where the agriculture sector was completely on a decline. He said that the province was facing water shortage, while "we have already sold our two rivers to India".
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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