MIRPURKHAS, June 9: The minister of state for agriculture, food and livestock, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, has said the country has witnessed decline in export of mango due to non-availability of cold storages and better means of transport.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 38th annual mango and summer fruit festival held at the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute here on Sunday evening.

The minister said lack of coordination between officials concerned and farmers had affected per acre yield. He urged agriculture extension officials to improve their performance and work in fields along with farmers to increase yield.

He said the government was taking measures to provide modern technology to farmers through different schemes.

He admitted that growers had suffered losses due to low prices of onion and potato and held out an assurance that the prices would be increased.

Mr Bosan called upon growers to pay their loans on time so that every grower could get loan.

He said the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) had reduced its interest rate from 14 per cent to 11 per cent for those growers who returned their loans on time.

Earlier, District Nazim Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah, who is also the president of the festival’s organizing committee, apprised the minister of problems confronting farmers.

He said water shortage in the district had affected produce and sugar mills were not paying dues to growers.

He said the government should announce a special package for the agriculture sector.

The Nazim thanked the Export Promotion Bureau for cooperating with the organizing committee.

Later, shields and cash prizes were given to owners of mango orchards.

Khair Mohammad Bhurgari, Nawazabad, and Gope Chand farms secured prizes in group A, Mohammad Ishaq Gabol, Allah Bachayo Rajar and Mohammad Umar Bughio farms received prizes in group B and Mohammad Sadiq Lashari, Mohammad Siddiq Lashari and Sher Mohammad Rajput farms were given prizes in group C.

SUICIDE: A peasant, Hakim Bheel, 33, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree near Samaro on Saturday.