December 02, 2008	Tuesday	Zilhaj 3, 1429

HYDERABAD, Dec 1: Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab have harvested a bumper rice crop but market players were ruining growers through manipulations, said the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB).

Board’s President Abdul Majeed Nizamani in a letter to Prime Minister Gilani had the government either to ensure Passco procures rice at official rate or wind it up for failing to come to the rescue of farmers.

The federal government had fixed the minimum price of coarse rice at Rs700 per 40kg with directives to Passco to implement it he said adding that the move was to protect farmers from manipulators.

SAB had expressed doubt over the agency’s efficacy since the beginning because of its lethargy, ineptitude, corruption and unwillingness, he said.

Nizamani criticised Passco for not fulfilling its obligation by purchasing rice which had pushed the prices further down. He blamed Reap for ruining the farmers by manipulating the market.

He categorically stated that either Passco should be pushed for following the government instructions in rice procurement or shut down this inefficient agency with a public declaration that the government was unable in helping farmers in their hour of crisis.

It appeared as if rice growers were being punished for producing bumper rice crops, Nizamani complained. He said some other efficient agency should be directed to implement the government decision for purchasing rice at official rates.