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Agriculture minister calls for improving farm output to meet WTO regime
HYDERABAD (October 01 2002) : Federal Food and Agriculture Minister Khair Mohammad Junejo has said the government has attached high priority for the
development of the agriculture sector to meet the challenges of WTO regime.
He was addressing a meeting of growers at the Agriculture Complex here on late Sunday evening during his brief visit.
He said during the WTO regime no country will have any leverage to stop product or commodity of any country. It was, therefore, imperative for us to improve our production capabilities, quality and cost-effective to meet the challenge of new world order, he added.
The minister said the government would not announce support price of agriculture produce, including sugarcane except for cotton and wheat, adding no indicative price for sugarcane would be announced this year in view of sugarcane production, which had exceeded the demand.
Referring to the demand of subsidy to agriculture sector, Junejo said 'beggars cannot be choosers', and added that Pakistan facing a foreign debt of $36 billion and as such it was obliged to accept the conditionality of the world loaning agencies including, both the World Bank and the IMF to evolve strategy to strengthen country's economy.
He said it was, therefore, imperative that we should pool our all resources to develop our economy to the extent to clear the foreign debt, and evolve strategies in accordance with the aspiration of the people.
The minister said it is not an impossible task it only needs sincerity to exploit all economic resources so that our products and agriculture commodities could get good price in the international market, and added that our onion and chillies will certainly get good price in the international market.
Responding to a question about withdrawal of GST on agriculture inputs, Junejo said it does not appear possible, however, there are every possibility that the mark-up on production.
He said the ADBP has been converted into a corporate body to eliminate the element of corruption, and has been directed to issue revolving credit cards to growers for three year.
The minister said under the revolving card, the growers will be able to get seasonal loan for the development of his crop and assured that there will be no further increase in mark-up rates.
He said commercial banks have also been instructed to grant production loans to farmers on pass-book basis.
Referring to Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida), the minister with a smile said it may not be beneficial for the growers of the country, but the World Bank considers it useful for the development of the agriculture sector.
Responding to another question about not implementation of the Water Accord in letter and spirit as water was not released downstream of Kotri Barrage which had adversely affected the people of Thatta and Badin districts and the people of the coastal areas.
Courtesy Business Recorder
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Pakissan.com;
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