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SUKKUR, June 24: The government is contemplating measures to ensure availability of high quality fertilizers and pesticides in every part of the province.
This was stated by the Director-General of Agriculture Research and Extension, Sindh, Mohammad Akram Malik, while speaking at a seminar organized by the Agriculture Extension Department in collaboration with the Crops Life Pakistan on enhancing cotton production and safe use of pesticides at Mirpur Mathelo on Tuesday.
Mr Malik said the government had taken several farmer-friendly steps, including increase in the support price of cottonseed from Rs800 to Rs850 per 40kg this year.
Moreover, the government had also announced a premium for producing quality cotton and included Ghotki district in this scheme, he said, and added that cotton growers should take a benefit from this scheme.
He said Sindh had been producing a bumper crop of cotton for the last many years. For 2003-04, the production target had been set at 2.4 million bales, he added.
Mr Akram advised the companies dealing with production and distribution of pesticides and fertilizers to adhere to responsible and healthy trade practices and provide farmers with quality products, failing which strict steps would be initiated under the relevant laws.
Speaking on the occasion, Chakar Khan Bozdar stressed the need for timely availability of irrigation water and seeds to growers. He demanded that action should be taken against suppliers of sub-standard pesticides. He also called for proper mobilization of field assistants for guidance of farmers.
Dr Ahmed Ali Baloch, Director Cotton Institute, Sakrand; Dr Gul Mohammad Baloch, Cotton Botanist, Tando Jam; Dr Sattar Buriro, Entomologist Tando Jam; Dr Sarwar Rahi of Crop Life Pakistan and Sajjad Hussain Bhatti also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Pathan Shaikh, Executive District Officer (Agriculture), Sukkur and Ghotki, welcomed the participants and assured the farmers that the field staff would be made more active.
ANTI-BANDIT DRIVE: Massive preparations were under way to launch the second phase of the police operation against outlaws in the RD-109 area along the Sindh-Balochistan border.
About 1,000 police personnel supported by 10 APCs, a helicopter and some tanks, are ready for the operation against outlaws, who have set up their hideouts in the hilly areas, considered a stronghold of the Chakrani Bugtis.
Sources say dacoits have vacated their hideouts to escape police hunt.
They have also dug up trenches in the hilly areas and set up an intelligence network.
A high-ranking police official told this correspondent that the operation against dacoits is likely to be launched within 48 hours.
However, some police officials said a strategy was being formulated to minimize the risk to lives of police personnel and to force the dacoits to surrender.
Meanwhile, a police party raided the village Jam Khoso near Thull, on Tuesday and after an exchange of fire with villagers, captured three outlaws, namely Gilloo Khoso, Rasheed Khoso and Malang.
