SANGHAR, Nov 9: The officials of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) are recovering loans in a disgraceful manner by violating basic human rights while dealing with farmers.

The general secretary of the Small Growers Association, Hassan Askari, and farmers from Khipro Taluka told journalists here on Sunday.

The irrigation officials have started water rotation without a reason as no formal announcement had been made by the government of Sindh, the growers said.

Mir Mohammad Nizamani, Pyaro Khan Shar, Naseer Khan Mari, Ali Dino Chandio, Mahboob Laghari and many others said that their area was declared calamity-hit in 1988, 1992, 1994, and 1995 as crops were totally destroyed due to heavy rains and floods.

They said that from 1995 to 2002, there was a severe drought and growers were unable to sow even 10 per cent of their lands, and added that they were again hit by heavy rains this year.

They said that today out of 60,000 acres in the Doso Wah command area, hardly 20,000 could be cultivated, and added that the position was the same on the Juma Shakh, Khehi, Sarhal, Tagoosar and many other minors and tributaries in Khipro Taluka.

The growers said that cotton production this year was less than 7 maunds per acre.

They claimed that despite all these natural calamities, no relief was provided by the government.

They said that the Zarai Taraqiati Bank staff were treating farmers like animals.

They said that farmers who had obtained loans of Rs500,000 had already paid back more than Rs400,000, but somehow their total amount of loans remained the same.

The farmers further said that they had sent proof regarding the Zarai Taraqiati Bank staff being corrupt to the higher authorities but in vain as no action was taken against them.

They demanded that the interest rate be brought down at par with subsidy on fertilizers, diesel, power and other inputs like that in the US and other developed countries.

They demanded that a real relief package be provided to the farmers who had obtained loans from the Zarai Taraqiati Bank and had paid mark-up equal to the actual amount.

They demanded that mark-up on loans upto Rs 1 million be written off.