"The government is committed to address the concerns and reservations of the growers and cultivators in perspective of Pak-India bilateral trade through Wagha border and an effective mechanism would be chalked out to safeguard the country's farmers."
Director General Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Lahore Sher Afgan Khan stated this while addressing the first meeting of Wagha Agri Trade Committee held at TDAP Lahore office on Friday. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the stakeholders including agri growers, cultivators, exporters and concerned government organisations. Highlighting the issues being faced by the farmers, President Farmers Associates Pakistan, Tariq Bucha said that in light of trade with India, farmers demand a separate bilateral trade agreement for the agriculture products. He said present SAFTA agreement needs to be revisited and clauses pertaining to agriculture needs to be added whereas they also want sensitive list for agriculture products to be expanded.
Chaudhary Javed Ahmed of Pak Kissan Ittehad said that our regulations and taxation system is damaging the agriculture sector of Pakistan. The participants observed that there is a need to formulate a proper regulatory infrastructure with regard to agriculture sector in view of Pak-India trade liberalisation so that the Pakistani farmers could compete with the Indian farmers.
The representatives of growers demanded development of TOR's for better positing of farmers and stressed on needs to subsidise for better quality output and better results through a proper mechanism including future pricing and support price on other agriculture products. The participants of the meeting also suggested that testing facility of GMO verification, pesticides and crop diseases needs to established at all district levels and at Wagha border.
The representative of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan stated that milling industry has grown by capacity of 9 million metric tons but the agriculture production is still 6.5 million metric tons. Rice Exporters Association appreciated the efforts to normalise trade with India. The meeting was also attended by senior officers of TDAP including Riaz Ahmed, Shazia Akram and Waqas Azeem.