August 13, 2007	Monday	Rajab 28, 1428

VEHARI, Aug 12: Cotton growers in Mailsi facing mealy bug attack have protested the non-availability of Profenofos that is considered to be an effective pesticide to counter the pest.

Farmers told reporters at Vehari Press Club two months ago, the pesticide was available in market at a price of Rs250 per litre but presently the commodity was not available.

Viewing shortage of the pesticide and mass attack of the bug, dealers were selling “fake” pesticide that too for Rs500 to 600 per litre, they said.

They alleged that dealers with the connivance of the Agriculture Department had stocked the pesticide creating artificial shortage of the item. They provided the original pesticide only to influential growers recommended by agriculture officials. They alleged the officials received commission from the dealers.

Farmers claimed they had informed the authorities about the situation but the department did not take any action against the dealers. They demanded that the government collect samples of pesticides from dealers for analysis.

Pesticide dealers in Vehari Grain Market say there are two type of pesticides; one is locally packed, while the other is foreign packed. The locally packed pesticides’ is cheaper than the foreign brand. One dealer conceded Profenofos’ price had increased after the attack of mealy bug in the area. But he denied the sale of spurious pesticides in the market. He blamed growers’ ignorance about the proper use of the pesticide for non-satisfactory result of the item.

Dr Riaz, agriculture officer, said the price of Profenofos had increased due to rise in its demand. He said his department would look into complaints about supply of fake or substandard pesticides to farmers. He said his department had no powers to control the prices as it was the responsibility of the district administration or price magistrates.

While farmers are clamouring for government’s help against the bug, federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan said scientists had found a recipe to control mealy bug attack on cotton showing 80 per cent success rate, APP adds.

Addressing a ceremony after inaugurating FM-93 channel in Multan on Saturday,

Mr Bosan said there was shortage of some pesticides due to increasing demand but “overall situation regarding the availability of pesticides was satisfactory”.

Bosan said the government offered a Rs22 billion subsidy on two kinds of fertilizers, including Rs6 to 7 billion on Nitrogenous fertilizers and Rs15 billion on DAP.

He said the government was offering a Rs470 subsidy on a DAP fertilizers bag, despite the fact that prices were high in the international market.

About an increase in the DAP price in the international market, he said that this year US growers opted for maize and sugarcane crops to obtain bio-diesel as by-product. These crops required greater amount of DAP fertilisers which increased the demand for DAP there, he added.