The NWFP Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq has said that Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government will introduce revolutionary reforms in agriculture sector like that of education and health.
He said such drastic steps would be taken under a comprehensive policy that would result into vivid increase in agriculture produce as well as life standard of farmers would improve considerably.
He was presiding over a high level meeting at Civil Secretariat Peshawar on Monday about reviewing per acre increase and problems and demands of farmers community.
The meeting besides Secretary Food, Jamaluddin, Secretary Excise and Taxation Ataullah Khan, Special Secretary Finance Aurangzebul Haq, Acting Secretary Irrigation, Director General Agriculture and other concerned authorities was also attended by representatives of farmers associations including Murad Ali, President Kisan Board, Arbab Abdus Sattar Vice President Sarhad Chamber of Agriculture, Ikramullah Khan of Drab House, President Anjuman Kashtkaran and Zamindaran, Abdul Haleem, President Anjuman Kashtkaran Tobacco, Ismail Jan, Abdul Akbar Khan and Arbab Muhammad Jameel.
The Senior Minister acknowledged that they could not get rid of the English system despite independence from English regime over half decade ago. He regretted that our agriculture was also facing downfall like many other sectors due to presence of English rules and regulations. However, he said that it was high time to take bold and revolutionary decisions.
He said that MMA government would solemnise next financial year as year of the agriculture growth. He announced a high powered committee comprising farmer's representatives and concerned administrative secretaries for solving problems and demands of farming community and obtaining food autarky. The committee will submit its recommendations within one-month period that will be implemented in the province after getting approval of the Chief Minister.
Siraj-ul-Haq said that the MMA government was representative government of working and farming communities and hence it was duty bound to work for their welfare. He said such steps would be taken that would directly provide relief to all such communities. He said that support of the Chief Minister would be sort for solving problems of the farmers for good.
The farmers representatives thanked the senior minister for his keen interest in removing their grievances and expressed the confidence that MMA government would take concrete and realistic steps for development of agriculture in the province as per its past tradition.