ISLAMABAD (February 21 2004): The government has evolved a policy to ensure reasonable prices to the cotton growers to save them from any hardship.

According to official sources, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has initiated measures to save the growers from any problem in the wake of arrival of new cotton crop in the market.

The provincial governments have been advised to monitor the situation and ensure reasonable price to the growers. Monitoring at the district level is also being ensured for the benefit of the producers.

ECC had already decided premium price for cotton at the rate of Rs 630 per 40 kg for the farmers. APTMA has also been asked to enhance it purchase to stabilise the prices of the commodity.

The ginning factories have been asked to purchase Grade-3 cotton under cotton control act so that the farmers should take care of the quality of cotton to find no excuse from the buyers.

Besides, a premium of Rs 200 is being paid to the farmers who produce contamination free cotton.

The government has set a target to procure from the market at substantially higher rate than the prevailing international parity price or the local price and just to support the price for the farmers.

Courtesy Business Recorder