Farmers' associations have welcomed the government decision of fixing wheat support price at Rs 950 per 40 kg for the coming crop and termed it a reasonable and timely decision. Although farmers' demand were high, the price is quite reasonable,' the leader, Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP), Hamid Malhi told Business Recorder.
He said that it showed a shift in the policies of the government as compared to the policies of the previous government. Further, he was of the view that policies of the previous government suits only the hoarders, smugglers and import mafia, while the price announced by the present government would encourage the farmers to make all out efforts for a good crop.
Malhi stated that this price would also offset to some extent the increase in the input costs. 'The farmers community was grateful to Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, who took lot of efforts to fix a reasonable wheat support price,' he said.
Commenting on the wheat support price, the Chairman, Agri-Forum Pakistan, Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal termed the federal government's decision as a timely omen. He said that it would make positive impact on all the areas where wheat is sown. He hoped that it would also increase the per acre yield which was stagnant at 26-27 maund per acre. 'When our farmers would produce more, it would help saving the precious foreign exchange spent on import of the commodity,' Mughal added.
In addition, he said the President, Asif Ali Zardari should also take a bold decision of starting construction of big reservoirs like Kalabagh Dam, as it would save the country from water crisis. The Secretary Information, Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP), Akhtar Farooque said the price was good as compared to the last year, but not enough if compared with increasing agricultural input costs and international rates.
He further said that if the government wanted to facilitate 30 percent urban population, it should give direct subsidy to and the farmers should be given due compensation for their hard labour. 'If the government ignores this fact, farmers would turn to sowing alternative crops like maize and sunflower that give more per acre yield and higher prices,' Farooque maintained. Therefore, the government should ensure DAP prices at Rs 2000 per bag so that the farmers could compromise with the announced wheat price.
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