Sindh Agriculture Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi has announced the formation of Agriculture Facility Board with the objective to provide maximum facilities to growers' community for enhancement in crops production and improvement in socio-economic condition of peasants of the province.
The agriculture sector is the backbone of the economy of not only Sindh province but also the country as it is providing 70 percent revenue and the government is fully determined to introduce advanced technologies to increase yield per acre.
The Provincial Agriculture Secretary expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the members of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture here on Sunday.
He said the government fully desired to seek the suggestions and recommendations of growers for bringing a revolution in agriculture sector of the province. The suggestions and recommendations of the growers' organisations would be included in the next Annual Development Programme, he assured.
To boost the agriculture sector, Sabhago Khan Jatoi said the provincial government has initiated development schemes of Rs 1.72 billion under Annual Development Programme.
Under these schemes latest equipment and machinery are being purchased, which would be provided to the growers on 50 percent discount rates so that they could increase their yield per acre by utilising these equipment, he added.
About the problems being faced by sugarcane growers on account of non-commencement of crushing season by sugar mills, he assured that he will hold meeting with the owners of sugar mills to avert losses, which could be suffered by the province as a result of delay in start of the crushing season.
The Provincial Agriculture Secretary agreed that the Agriculture Extension Wing of the Agriculture Department has weakened, however, he assured that 2400 field staff of Agriculture Extension would be mobilised for the welfare of the growers while strict action would also be initiated against fake and substandard pesticides manufacturers.
Sindh Secretary for Irrigation Shuja Ahmed Junejo who also attended the meeting said the government fully desired to resolve the grievances of the growers' community at the earliest.
He agreed to a point that 22 percent shortage of irrigation water would reduce the crops production but said that all out efforts are being made to utilise the available water for the purpose.
On the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, strict action is being initiated with the support of the Rangers against water theft, he said and added a comprehensive strategy is needed for supply of water at the tails of the irrigation system so that the same could be utilised by the growers for enhancement of their crop cultivation.
Junejo assured that sufficient water will be available during Rabi season and the Department will not implement any water rotation programme during the season.
President Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Syed Qamar- uz- Zaman Shah who presided over the meeting briefed about the problems being faced by the growers' community of the province and emphasised the need of early attention to addressing the major issues of agriculture sector.
Referring to the services of Punjab Government for provision of maximum facilities to the growers of that province, Syed Qamar- uz-Zaman Shah emphasised the need for undertaking similar efforts in Sindh so that the agriculture sector could achieve the required results.
He called for stern action against the management of those sugar mills, which have still not started the crushing season. He also emphasised the need for gearing up the lining of watercourses so that the project could start providing fruitful results to the growers. President Sindh Abadgar Board Abdul Majeed Nizamani also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the problems being faced by the growers of the province.