Prime Minister Imran Khan has underlined the importance of solving problems of genuine farmers and directed to take immediate steps to stop pilferage of water in the canals.
Talking with delegation of farmers from Southern Punjab in Islamabad today [Thursday], he emphasized on decrease of middlemen’s role enabling the farmers to get good price of their products.
The Prime Minister further directed the authorities concerned to invoke relevant laws to deal with cartelization and to shun hoarding practices.
The Prime Minister said that in order to explore full potential of the agriculture sector, the government has launched Agriculture Emergency Program worth 277 billion rupees an unprecedented allocation for the sector. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the productivity of wheat, rice, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseed crops; besides developing livestock and water sectors.
The Prime Minister said that this shortage can be met by stopping pilferage of water in the canals.
Imran Khan said that the government is also extending Kissan Cards to farmers, especially the smaller ones, for modernizing the agriculture sector and farmers will get benefits of various government programs, such as crop loans and subsidies on fertilizers, seeds and pesticides through this card.
Earlier the Prime Minister was informed that it is likely that Rabi crop will be affected due to 28% shortage of water in reservoirs.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, Industries Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Energy Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar.
Source: Radio Pakistan