MULTAN, Nov 3: A proposal by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin regarding imposition of tax on agriculture has been opposed by some of the key people related to farming. Progressive farmer and former federal minister for trade and industry Jehangir Tareen said the agriculture sector was already paying various kinds of taxes and imposition of a new tax would discourage farmers.

He said if the government had decided to impose tax on agriculture it should ensure uninterrupted supply of water and electricity to farmers and lower diesel and other inputs prices. He said farmers were already facing multiple problems. He said the farmers hit by skyrocketing prices of fertilisers, pesticides and other inputs needed relief.

Mango Growers Association President Zahid Husain Gardezi said farmers were about to burst against the dwindling water reserves, collapsing canal system and the crisis in the cotton marketing. He said there were no buyers for cotton after more than 900 ginning factories closed down. The absence of electricity and fertilisers was going unnoticed.

Gardezi said all rudimentary obstructions surfaced to depress and demoralise farmers as soon as the wheat sowing season set in. He said the big farmers sitting in assemblies miserably failed to highlight the grievances and problems of the agriculture sector. He said agriculturists did not qualify for any financing by banks if they mention their business on the loan application form.

He said policymakers should interact with stakeholders to make viable policies for the agriculture sector. He called for a rapid transfer of technology to the agriculture sector and distribution of subsidised tractors and other machinery to all interested farmers having land below 10 hectares.