Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Convenor Sub-committee on pesticides, Mian Asif Manhood Mohal has assured that the movement launched against fake pesticides and fertilisers is not aimed at harassing any stakeholder but to assist companies and dealers of good reputation in promotion of their business.
He said this move would help ensuring the provision of quality pesticides and fertilisers to the growers thus increasing the productivity of this sector. These views were expressed by him while chairing an important meeting of the subcommittee at Commissioner Office, Multan. He said the government had launched the move on the directives of the Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and some anti-social elements were making wrong propaganda against it to hoodwink the masses.
Asif Manzoor Mohal said that he had visited various good companies which are member of the Pakistan Crop Protection Association and inspected their formulation, refilling and laboratories. He also appreciated the work of these companies on the basis of infrastructure they had. He said those who are doing good work need not to worry and the government would fully protect their business.
The meeting also decided that opinion of all the stakeholders should be included in the amendments to be prepared for the pesticides ordinance. The meeting was attended by the Punjab Secretary Agriculture Captain (r) Arif Nadeem, DCO Multan Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Director General Agriculture (Extension and AR) Dr Anjum Ali Buttar, Director General Pest Warning Dr Noor-ul Islam, high ranking agriculture department officers and representatives of the Crop-life Pakistan and Pakistan Crop Protection Association, Dealers Association and growers' organisations.
Representatives of the Crop-life Pakistan and Pakistan Crop Protection Association discussed about the hurdles in the way of their business. Growers appreciated the efforts of the provincial government for providing them quality agricultural puts. They also urged the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture not to give any relaxation to those involved in heinous business of fake pesticides and fertilisers. They also urged the department to make active field officers of Pest-Warning Wing of the Agriculture Department for better take care of cotton crop and ensuring more per acre yield.