OKARA: Various representatives of farmers and agriculturists announced a protest against the government’s decision permitting duty-free import of potato from India, calling it against the country, economy, agriculture and growers.

This was stated in a meeting attended by dozens of farmers from Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Deepalpur and Okara on Tuesday in the office of Pakistan Potato Society Okara chapter.

The meeting was addressed by Chaudhry Arshad Ali, a grower and the president of Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce; Farmers Associates of Pakistan President Dr Syed Afzaal Haider, Potato Growers Society President Mian Muhammad Farooq, progressive potato growers Chaudhry Maqsood Jatt, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad Sahiwal President Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain among others.

They said the decision to import duty-free potato from India was tantamount to ruining agriculture in the country, especially in the current potato crop season. The Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of National Food Security had overlooked the negative impacts it could have on agriculture.

They said 83pc people of Sahiwal division were linked with agriculture and the division produced 25pc of the total potato and maize produce in the country. The farmers declared resistance, protest rallies and a sit-in against this “negative decision”.

A progressive potato grower Liaquat Ali Batalvi told Dawn 60 trailers loaded with Indian low-quality potato imported by a private beverage company had arrived in Okara district on Tuesday. Such steps would damage the country’s own potato crop and ultimately the public would suffer.

It was announced that the thousands of farmers and growers would wear black armbands to welcome Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on his arrival in Deepalpur on April 25.

It was also declared that the farmers would start a protest from Okara to Rahim Yar Khan, the main agriculture belt of the country.