Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh has termed the increase in the prices of DAP fertilisers as injustice with the growers. The minister further said that it was actually an anti-agriculture move. The price of DAP fertiliser has increased to over Rs 3000 per bag which was being sold at Rs 2600 till October 15. He regretted that business of fertilisers has become a tool for looting growers.
The minister was presiding over a meeting held here on Wednesday to review the availability of fertilisers. Secretary Agriculture, Arif Nadeem, manufacturers, dealers and importers of fertilisers and representatives of farmers attended the meeting.
The minister said it was against the principles of business that fertiliser manufacturers increased DAP fertiliser prices by 12 percent in a short span of time. He also urged Prime Minister Gilani to take immediate notice of the delay by the Federal Ministry of Industries and Production in importing fertilisers. The Punjab government was assured in many meetings that fertilisers were present in the country in abundance, he added.
Aulakh warned all the stakeholders that increase in fertiliser prices would not only hit the growers hard but also leave negative impact on agricultural production. He vowed that the Punjab government would not leave the poor growers on the mercy of looters and take strong action against those involved in increasing the fertiliser prices unjustifiably.