|
Demo against low cotton
prices
MULTAN-Cotton growers during a
procession demanded of the government to immediately direct
Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to expedite its
procurement operation and buy cotton from the growers as it
has just bought 4,00,000 bales so far as against set target of
10 lakh bales. They further asked the government to set
minimum support price of cotton at Rs 1,200.
The procession was held against poor cotton policy of the
government and low prices of cotton produce and imposition of
15 per cent GST on agricultural inputs at Jangal Mariala on
Khanewal-Jahanian Road on Wednesday.
While addressing the procession, Chairman Anjuman Falah
Kashtkaran, Mehr Mushtaq Mahar, said that government's target
of procurement of one million bales through TCP had proved a
false claim as even after lapse of three weeks it had bought
just four lakh bales. He said that the TCP had not established
its procurement centres at its district offices.
"It seems as the government is safeguarding the interests of
ginners and APTMA. The poor growers are compelled to sell
their cotton to the ginners at comparatively low prices than
minimum support price as well as the ginners deduct five kg
weight from the actual weight but neither the government take
any action against this exploitation of growers nor TCP buys
cotton from the growers," he said.
He demanded of the government to reschedule loans for one year
and direct release of interest-free loans for one year. He
further demanded that the entire cotton belt should be
declared calamity-hit area.
A large number of cotton growers attended the procession. They
blocked the road by planing agricultural tools, tractors and
trolleys in the middle of the road and did not allow traffic
for two hours. The protesters also burnt cotton as a protest
against wrong government policies. They were also holding
banners and placards, demanding the GST from agricultural
inputs.
November 2, 2001
|
Other News
|
