Representatives of different farmers' organisations terming the federal budget 2012-13 as anti-agriculture and anti-farmers have said that there is no mention of steps for development of agriculture, which contributes over 23 per cent in the national gross domestic product (GDP).
Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) President Dr Tariq Bucha termed the proposed federal budget as a very poor budget as far as the agriculture is concerned. In his initial reaction, while talking to Business Recorder, FAP President said that only Rs 495 billion had been allocated in a budget of over 2.6 trillion. 'This is not sufficient rather only peanuts. Agriculture despite all the issues has shown a growth rate of 3.4 per cent and can play a very important role in strengthening the national economy has been allocated nothing,' he added.
He stated that the claim of the government about giving subsidy to the agriculture sector during present financial year was also farce. He said that the subsidy never reached to the growers but usurped by some other people. He said that despite a subsidy on Urea, growers were still buying it at higher rates.
He said that allocation for subsidy on solar tube-wells, research and agriculture was very meager rather zero. Agri-Forum Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal strongly reacted to the budget speech of the federal finance minister and said that this was not the fifth budget by the government rather it was the fifth nail in the coffin. He said that the country never had such a budget with huge trade deficit.