November 14, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba’an 27, 1422

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RAHIM YAR KAHN, Nov 13: Local ginners and farmers are concerned over non-payment of premium on contamination-free cotton by millers.

The premium was announced by Federal Commerce Minister Razaq Dawood during his visit to Rahim Yar Khan in August last.

Addressing a seminar, also attended by representatives of ginners, growers and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), the minister had announced a premium of Rs 200 per 40kg cotton to be shared equally by the ginners and farmers.

The districts of Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab) and Ghotki (Sindh), it may be added, have been selected as a pilot project for launching cotton free from contamination.

A spokesman the ginners association said they had taken all measures to check contamination of cotton. He said phutti was being lifted from the field in cotton bags.

Despite these measures, he said, the growers and ginners of Rahim Yar Khan were receiving the same price of cotton as that of other districts in the Punnjab.

He said the delay or denial in payment would mean failure of the government and Aptma efforts to make the local cotton free from contamination.

SEMINAR: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Khair Muhammad Junejo, Punjab and Sindh agriculture ministers Khurshid Zaman Qureshi and Hassan Ali Chandio will arrive here on a one-day visit on Thursday (Nov 15).

The ministers will attend an agriculture moot to discuss cotton production, arranged at the Sh Zayed Public School auditorium.

The conference will cover all issues related to cotton crop, growth, production, disease prevention and treatment, and use of latest techniques to increase yield.