Agriculture machinery: MNFS&R proposes decrease in import duty

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) has proposed a decrease in import duty on agriculture machinery from the existing 30 percent to nine percent and to provide a targeted subsidy to the farmers to enhance productivity as well as to bridge the yield gap between conventional and progressive farmers in the budget to be announced tomorrow.
An official source said that the MNFS&R has asked the government to decrease import duty on agriculture machinery including tractors, combine harvesters, rice translator etc up to nine percent. "The Ministry also proposed providing direct subsidy to the farmers through credit cards and allocation of funds for converting tube wells to solar energy," source said.
Dr Azeem Khan of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) said that the main reasons behind low productivity rate and yield gap between conventional and progressive farmers is imbalance in the use of fertilisers due to high prices of fertilizers in the country, lack of the usage of modern equipments, agriculture machinery, quality seed, and proper irrigation system. "If government provides subsidy to the farmers and decreases import duty on agriculture machinery, it would enable small farmers to use modern technology and ensure balanced use of fertilisers," he said.
He also suggested that there is dire need to train the farmers on the use of modern technology and balanced use of fertilisers. Azeem said that effective steps are mandatory to prevent post harvest losses and improve value chain and market access to farmers. He further said that adequate agriculture value chain will multiply the growth of agriculture sector. The country has great potential in fruit, vegetable, horticulture and livestock products but it is not being fully realised due to missing value chain, he said.
Another senior official said that the imbalance in nutrients is a major contributor in the decline and degradation of crop production and soil fertility in the country. "The introduction of 4-Rs - Right fertilizer at the Right rate at the Right time in the Right place is mandatory for increase in productivity and decrease in yield gap between progressive and conventional growers," official said.
He said that small farmers cannot use recommended amount of fertilisers especially DAP and urea due to their soaring price in the country. There is no proper arrangement to provide easy financing especially to small farmers purchasing seeds, pesticides, fertilisers etc. Decrease in high input cost and provision of modern equipments to farmers can easily bring improvements in agriculture productivity and ensure food security in the country, he said.