Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday directed Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that farmers get wheat price of Rs 425 per bag as fixed by the government and the process of procurement is streamlined.
Talking to Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Minister of State for Agriculture Muhammad Ali Malkani and MNA M.P. Bhandara, the Prime Minister said there is significant increase in the productivity of the agriculture sector.
He said this year record Rabi crops are expected which will have a positive impact on country's growth targets in addition to augmenting the income of farmers. The government will ensure that the farmers get fair return of their produce, he added.
Shaukat Aziz said about 62 percent of Pakistan's population is directly and indirectly linked with agriculture and the government is focusing on increasing yield, modern farming systems and value addition to augment farmers' income.
The Prime Minister said that the subsidy provided by the government on DAP, phosphoric and potassic fertilisers promoted balanced use of fertilisers and helped increase the agricultural output.
He said the government is also promoting use of modern techniques and application of latest research in the dairy and livestock sector to enable the farmers run their farms on modern lines.
The Prime Minister said poverty has declined in the rural areas from 39.3 percent in 2001 to 28.1 percent in 2005. The increase in the sale of consumer items testified by the companies producing such goods is a testimony of better purchasing power and improved living standards there.
He said record crops this year will bring further improvement in the rural areas. He said that continued increase in agricultural productivity will increase farm income and reduce poverty level.
Minister for Food and Agriculture informed the Prime Minister that his Ministry has made arrangements to ensure procurement of wheat in an efficient manner. He said Passco and provincial food departments have been started purchase of wheat and bags are available at the procurement centres.
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