The Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani will announce the new Kisan Dost Cotton Policy on April 15. The Agriculture Department sources informed Business Recorder that the department is preparing for the coming cotton crop, as the season will start from May 1.
Sources also said that Gillani would formally announce this cotton policy in the cabinet meeting being held on April 15. This year the cotton will be sown on areas five to seven percent larger than the last year, they said adding that subsidy will be given on DAP and Urea.
It is worth mentioning that the previous government had given a subsidy of Rs 12 billion, an amount the farmers declared insufficient. Moreover, the price of DAP, hits the record height in the recent wheat season.
The sources also viewed that there is a dire need is to control the DAP prices and give better facilities to the farmers at a time, when the new cotton policy is about to be implemented, so as to enable the farmers get bumper cotton crop in the next season.