'Kisan Seminar' was held by Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) under the sub-departments of Allahdin group of companies, Warble and Welcon, in Multan Arts Council here on Wednesday. Dealers and distributors of more than 60 pesticide companies and a large number of farmers from different cities of southern Punjab were also present on this occasion.
Agriculture experts with the help of multi-media gave valuable information and guidelines to farmers from preparation of land to harvesting of crops. Senior vice president PML-N, Javed Hashmi said that the country's economy could be improved by avoiding anti-agriculture policies. He said that private sector should be encouraged, and farmers should be provided tractors without tax to get bumper crop of wheat.
He said that the country's development is not possible without development of agriculture and declaring 'Feudal Lord' the worst enemy of farmers. He said that all over the world, agriculture is going on latest trends, "but here in our country, the research institutions have become white elephants, and government machinery has remained totally flopped to increase the per acre yield".
He said: "The land of only Punjab is so fertile that we could fulfil not only our food requirements but can also export to Central Asian states where wheat is not cultivated." He said that farmers are being exploited for the last 60 years and facing health problems. He said that feudal lords who have not returned their agriculture loans worth over Rs 3 billions are moving free and poor farmer is put behind the bars for not returning Rs 300.
Javed hailed the role of Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) and said that private sector should come forward and play its role to change the mentality of farmers and to introduce them with latest technology. "We have to give facilities to farmers to make farming a profitable one."
He criticised the act of government to impose tax on tractors and said that the more cheap machinery would be provided to farmers the more cultivation would be done. He termed the former government responsible for the flour crisis and added that sugar mafia was involved in sugar crisis "which we faced last year".
Abdul Sattar Azhar of Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) said that PCPA Friends Group consists of 60 companies, which wants to take the country out of food crisis. He said that field staff of 5000 people is providing information to farmers on their doorstep.
Atta-ur-Rehman, Asif Majeed, Abdul Hameed, Tariq Khan, Khalid Khokhar, agriculture expert Bahadur Shah, District Agriculture Officer, Zulfiqar Wahla and others also addressed the seminar. Later on spray machines, spray nozzles and packs of latest formula of wheat 'Padavari Pack' were distributed among the farmers by PCPA.