The protesting and angry farmers stopped transportation of urea fertiliser in Mianwali district demanding that first their needs be met before despatching it to other parts of the country.
President Pakistan Kissan Board (PKB) Sardar Zafar Hussain told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the frustrated farmers and wheat growers held protest rallies in different villages of Mianwali district on Monday against the hoarding and black marketing of urea which they urgently needed for sprouting saplings as well as for the crop's vigorous growth.
He said the growers stopped the movement of trawlers loaded with urea fertiliser produced by the Pak American fertiliser factory Iskanderabad, Daudkhel, Mianwali near Sillanwali and demanded it should be sold to them at the control rates.
Well informed sources said that the protesting farmers snached away about 200 bags of urea. However, the district administration calmed down the farmers and brought the situation under control. The administration of the Pak American fertiliser plant is reported to have expressed disappointment over the incident.
The PKB president alleged that the government has failed to stop black marketing and hoarding of fertiliser at a very crucial stage wheat crop growth and the farmers are in rebellious mood in all districts of the province.
He said the government has fixed price of 50 KG bag at Rs 660 but black marketeers were selling it between Rs 950 and Rs 1000 per bag.
He demanded that the government should immediately bring down the prices of diesel oil in line with the international oil prices and provide subsidy for payment of electricity bills of the irrigation tube-wells to enhance per acre yield of crops.
Commenting on current state of Agriculture sector, Ibrahim Mughal, President Pakistan Agri Forum said that the government has set the current year's target of wheat production at 25 million tonnes. But it would be an uphill task to meet it in view of shortage of urea fertiliser, high cost of diesel, load shedding and 40 percent shortage of irrigation water for the rabi crops.
He said the sugar mills are also delaying crushing of sugarcane, thus sugarcane fields would not be available for the late sowing of the wheat crop in January.
Talking to Business Recorder Director General Agriculture Extension Services Dr Anjam Ali admitted that there was a shortage of 1,50,000 tonnes of urea against requirements of the Rabi crops which has provided an opportunity to the middlemen and traders to fleece the farmers.
He said Pakistan's total urea production is about 4.8 million tonnes against a demand of 5.4 million tonnes, leaving a shortfall of 600,000 tonnes, which is being met through imports.
Six ships carrying large quantities of urea had started anchoring at Port Qasim and Gwadar ports and the imported urea is being transported to up country on fast track. "Had we imported this urea in the month of November there would have been plenty of fertiliser available in the local market at control prices," he admitted.
He said the Punjab government in collaboration with the National Fertiliser and the Utility Stores Corporations had made arrangements to sell urea at 97 sale points at the fixed rates.
Earlier, an inter-ministerial body, in consultation with fertiliser manufacturers, had decided to provide 50 percent of total production to dealers and sell 50 percent at control rate at the warehouses of manufacturing plants. He opined that after arrival of the imported fertiliser the local market would be flooded with fertiliser in the month of March but there would be not many buyers as rabi crops would be nearing harvesting.
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