MULTAN: Punjab Agriculture Committee (PAC) is optimistic that all its recommendation would surely be approved and Prime Minister would announce a mega incentives package for farmers to make Pakistan self-sufficient in agricultural produce.
Punjab Agriculture Committee(PAC) member and Director Pakistan Textile Council. Noted industrialist cum agriculturist, Ex-President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) and sitting President of Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and ex-Provincial caretaker Minister for Industries Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that PAC has recommended support price of raw-cotton(Phutti) at Rs.4500 per maund like wheat support price at Rs.1800/maund and cash subsidy of Rs.15000/- per acre for cotton growers. Roomi said that Pakistan cannot afford to import agricultural produce of 3 billion dollars per annum.
He said that agriculture is an important factor in poverty reduction, improved country’s economy and food production heavily depend on these resources. Pakistan’s population increasing day by day and the demand of food is increasing every year. Food, fiber and shelter are important sources for economy and these resources increased in every year with increased populations.
He further said that the significance of agriculture can be seen in economic sector from three perspectives, provide food to nation and filaments for domestic industry; means of earnings foreign exchange; and provide goods and services in domestic industries and international market.
The Pakistan’s total area is 796,095 km2, about 22 million are cultivated and 8.3 million are non-cultivated land. Pakistan blessed with natural resources and covered many ecological and climatic zones.
Jalaluddin Roomi said that Punjab Agriculture Committee (PAC) has also submitted recommendations for granting incentives to the growers of Maize, rice and oil producing crops and allotment of millions of acres of state land to landless farmers through open auction to make it transparent and bringing a revolution in agriculture sector.
He suggested that Government should prefer local farmers on international companies to allot the land on 20 to 30 years lease. Roomi said that Present Government was committed to implement strictly on the crop-zoning strategy. He disclosed that Punjab Government has started a crackdown against the importers, manufacturers, dealers and retailers of spurious pesticides.
He further said that Government was committed to provide well-germinated, heat & disease resistant cotton seed on affordable price. He said that Government was considering inviting foreign companies for boosting up cotton production, supply of qualitative seeds and pesticides and investing on different agro-based projects. PAC member suggested that Government should supply certified seed of all crops.
