‘Crop yields fall on high input cost’

KARACHI: Businessmen Panel Secretary General (Federal) Ch Ahmad Jawad on Monday said production of wheat, maize and rice went down 30 percent this year, while cotton production declined 45 percent, mainly due to hike in prices of farm inputs.

He said the cost of production for farmers has gone beyond their reach. Previously, electricity tariff was around Rs5.40/unit, now it was Rs15/unit. Similarly, DAP price has gone up to Rs3,800/bag from Rs2,300 while urea was up to Rs2,300/bag from Rs1,200/bag.

He said if the incumbent government wanted to uplift the agricultural sector and its share in the GDP before ending of the ongoing finance bill of 2019-20, Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) should reduce the prices of fertiliser, electricity, and diesel for the farmers.

He suggested establishing growth centres for every 10 union councils to work towards marketing produce and establishing small and medium-sized industries to create jobs for the rural population, so they did not migrate to cities.