Engr Javed Saleem Qureshi has said that pesticide industry is currently passing through crisis and the higher authorities should take measures to end manufacturing of fake products in the country. While addressing the 'Importers and Distributors Conference 2008' here on Wednesday, Qureshi urged the government to form a 'Pesticide Manufacturing Policy'.
The prices of pesticides have increased from 25 to 100 percent, he said adding that last year pesticides worth Rs 15 billion were consumed whereas this year pesticides worth Rs 28 billion is expected to be utilised. He urged the government to take stern action against the companies, which are manufacturing counterfeit products in order to protect the reputable companies from defamation and harassment.
Qureshi said the entire pesticide industry should not be held responsible for manufacturing counterfeit products and the government should take action against only those companies, which are involved in this illegal trade.
Talking about the Pak-China Pesticide Manufacturing Plant, Qureshi said this is the only plant of its kind in the country established by the Chinese investor, which is providing quality and cheap pesticides to the farmers. He urged upon the need for establishment of more such plants in the country to tackle the monopoly of multinational companies.
Talking about the upcoming projects, Qureshi said that Ali Akbar Group has cultivated cotton on the experimental plots in the barani areas of Potohar and next year cotton would be sown on about 50,000 acres in barani areas. He said that the government should encourage the cultivation of cotton in barani areas like India and China.