A number of farmers from Khan Bela and adjoining areas here have demanded that they may be given wavers of government taxes as their cotton crop has suffered heavily due to virus and flies despite the use of pesticides.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, farmers from Mauza-Baharkhaki, Syedani Sharif, Chanji, Azeempur, Gillani, Zafarabad etc said that they suffered heavy losses due to the damage caused to their crops. "My 1.5 acre land has so far yielded only eight kg cotton", said a farmer Jamil Hussein from Chanji who said that pesticides failed to protect his crops.
The farmers demanded that their 'abiana' be waived and interest free loans be provided to them for the next crop, which is wheat and urged that there should be consistent guidance from the government agencies during crop sowing etc.
According to a handout, Punjab minister for Co-operative, Colonel Malik Muhammed Anwer (Retd) said on Thursday. The minister said that an action plan is being devised on the directive of the Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi with a view to render the role of Punjab Professional Co-operative Bank (PPCB) more effective.
He said the government aimed that small loans on easy terms are provided to farmers and at the same time recovery process of these loans should also be made more efficient.