The Mango Growers Association of Pakistan (MGAP) has termed the budget 2008-09 as vague and fairly not farmer-friendly. The MGAP is of the view that the enhanced subsidy for DAP fertiliser is practically unworkable as subsidies are exploited and the entire benefit is taken by the hoarders and profiteers.
MGAP demanded reduced benchmark price of fertilisers and strict enforcement of prices in open markets instead of giving subsidies. The views came at a meeting of the MGAP, which was held to take stock of the federal budget proposals 2008-2009. The meeting was chaired by Syed Zahid Hussain Gardezi and attended by Major Syed Zahid Ali Bukhari (Retd), Malik Waqar Ahmed Awan, Syed Mazhar Abbas Gardezi, Malik Sajid Ali Maitla, Syed Izaz Hassan Gardezi, Mehr Maqbool Jangla, Major S Hassan Askari Gardezi (Retd), Syed Abul Hassan Bukhari, Malik Faiz Rasool Awan, Nasir Abbas Jafri, Mian Fazal Hussain, Murtaza Haider Gardezi and Shujaat Hussain.
The MGAP opined that no workable modalities have been identified to establish water reservoirs in order to meet the future water crisis in the country. MGAP demanded that a special Bachat Card be issued to growers and farmers to provide them oil at lower prices for tube-wells and tractors.
MGAP said the decision to supply uninterrupted ten-hour electricity supply to tube-wells at night has not been implemented as the load shedding continues unabated. MGAP demanded fixed subsidised electricity tariff for tube-wells.
The MGAP members were agitative at the absence of any workable modality for profitable marketing of agriculture produce. They said that Cold Chain Infrastructure for Fruits and Vegetables could be developed with the induction of contemporary post harvest technology in liaison with MGAP and other representative bodies of the horticulture industry. The members also sought a meeting with the Prime Minister and Agriculture Ministers.