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Major crops production on decline for five years
HYDERABAD (March 27 2004): Major crops production
losses in the province during the past five years
amount to Rs 100 billion if calculated on the
basis of market value.
According to statistics released by the
Agriculture Extension Sindh, the wheat production
was constantly on decline from 2001-02, showing
around 29 percent decrease during past three
years.
The reasons attributed to less production of wheat
crop in the province were water shortage,
non-availability of certified seed and delay in
harvesting of sugarcane.
The experts are of the opinion that increase in
minimum support price would not help much in view
of the high prices of inputs, on the contrary it
would bring additional burden on the consumers.
In order to re-enter the wheat export club a
balance in inputs and outputs should be maintained
and water supply should be ensured at the crucial
period.
It was also advised that the sugarcane crushing
season should be started before the wheat sowing
so that the growers can save water, which they
used to save when crushing is delayed.
Decline in rice production to the extent of around
40 percent or 2.5 million tones have been recorded
during the past three years.
The experts attributed this decline to the late
sowing and low yield per hectare as no new rice
variety has been inducted.
The growers said that the Irri varieties should be
replaced with K K 282 and modern mechanised
methods should be introduced, and furthermore
Smeda should be assigned the task to modernise the
rice industry on the pattern of India, Vietnam and
Philippines.
Sugarcane production during the past four years
also recorded a decline varying around 16.61 to 33
percent.
The experts are of the opinion that the industry
is victim of zero subsidy regimes with high
profile tax structure.
They maintained that sugar is a food item and as
such it should not be taxed. The 18 percent GST
means every consumer had to pay Rs 2.70 per Kg
more.
The growers are virtually on the mercy of
mill-owners in the absence of core samplers.
The experts maintained that the Agriculture Price
Commission should undertake an exercise to
ascertain cost of production of crystal sugar
before announcing the minimum support price to
bring an end to controversy, which had become an
annual feature.
Cotton production for the last two years is also
on decline due to pest attack and water shortage.
According to reports most of the cotton growing
districts remain under heavy pest attack due to
excessive marketing of sub-standard and spurious
pesticides.
Several cases have been detected and around 19
pesticides companies have been served with
show-cause notices but under mysterious
circumstances all notices have been withdrawn.
A store house of a company was detected and raided
where no less than ten samples of pesticides and
zinc have been impounded and were sent for
laboratory test where most of the pesticides and
zinc was found spurious but no case has been
registered so far nor its distribution permission
has been cancelled.
Courtesy Business Recorder |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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