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Govt fully protecting farmers’ rights: Pervaiz Rashid

By APP
September 28, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid on Wednesday said the government is fully cognizant of the needs of farmers and has provided them variety of incentives to cover up income shortfall due to stagnation in international market.

“Agriculture is backbone of our economy and the government has facilitated farmers through various incentives to cover up their income shortfall,” the minister said addressing a news conference in front of the Parliament House.

The minister said, some opposition parties are bent upon politicking on this issue but Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz will not let the opposition to play with the sentiments of poor farmers.

He said, in 2013 the price of Urea fertilizer bag was Rs 2050 per bag that has been reduced to Rs 1400 by the present government. Similarly, the price of DAP fertilizer was Rs 3900 per bag during PPPP government tenure that has been reduced to Rs 2650. “By this way, the government reduced the price of Urea by Rs 650 per bag and that of DAP by Rs 1250 per bag.”

The minister said the price of electricity for tube wells under the use of farmers has been reduced to Rs 5.35 per unit from PPPP tenure’s price of Rs 10.50 per unit. “For provision of this facility to our farmers, the government will pay to power sector Rs 27 billion.”

He also mentioned payment of Rs 5000 per acre to small farmers as cash support to cover up their income shortfall in rice and cotton crops. Under this mechanism, 50 percent amount had to be paid by the federal government and 50 percent by respective provincial governments.

Pervaiz Rashid said diesel for farmers in 2013 was being provided at Rs 110 per liter which has been brought down by the present government to Rs 72.55 per liter. “Our party led government in Punjab is also providing cheaper Green tractors to farmers on 25 percent subsidized rates and price of sugarcane in Punjab is Rs 180 for 40 kg against Rs 172 per 40 kg in Sindh.”

He said Punjab government will be providing 25,000 tractors to farmers on 25 percent subsidized rates. “The provincial government and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have also ensured complete payment of sugarcane to farmers by the sugar mills".

The minister categorically rejected the allegations of Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah and said, it would have been better if ‘Shah Sahib’ had implemented the Prime Minister’s package in Sindh.

He said every farmer in Punjab has availed the benefits of Prime Minister’s package as the provincial government diligently moved farmers to mitigate their sufferings and no complaint was received in this regard from any corner. “We did our job honestly and provided relief to poor farmers through the money we had saved by honestly implementing the development projects. We spent masses money on them instead of ferrying it abroad through launches.”