Increase in electricity, oil prices: Farmers apprehend pushing of rural economy into recession

LAHORE: Different farmers’ organizations reacting to fresh increase in electricity and petroleum prices have expressed the fear that it would further push the rural economy into recession which is already at the brink of destruction.

Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) President Chaudhry Shaukat Ali Chaddhar reacting to twice increase in petroleum prices during the current month and hike in electricity prices termed it the exploitation of whole of the nation and the growers at the hands of sitting government.

He claimed the impact of the increase in electricity and diesel tariff would lead to the closure of thousands of tube-wells and stall the agricultural machinery. This government has provided no relief to the masses since it assumed the charge rather repeated increase in electricity, gas, petroleum products and eatables have made impossible to live for the common man.

Shaukat Ali said that the government had broken records of price hike of last the 70 years in just 70 days. He said that such steps were forcing the growers to come on the road.

Agriculture Republic, an agri think-tank, founder Aamir Hayyat Bhandara talking to Business Recorder said that increase in petroleum and electricity prices impacts the whole agricultural sector. Tube-wells run both on diesel or electricity, agricultural machinery runs on petroleum products, thus, increase in prices of these utilities makes agriculture more expensive and a business of loss for the farmers.

He said harvesting potatoes is under process while sowing of corn and sorghum is about to start. He said fresh price-hike will not only impact the rural families and farmers but also the livestock as an increase in fuel prices increases expense on everything.

Farmers Bureau of Pakistan (FBP) President Dr Zafar Hayyat said that increase in fuel prices pushes the cost of agriculture upward while prices of different commodities in the market are lower compared to expenses. Fresh increase in electricity and petroleum prices would further burden the growers financially, so the government should withdraw the hike at the earliest to save the agricultural sector.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021