HYDERABAD, May 6: The president, Sindh-Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association, Mr Gada Hussain Mahessar, has appealed to the federal government to come to the rescue of the rice growers and millers, who are likely to sustain colossal losses due to the damage to the crop following recent rains.

In a communication addressed to the Prime Minister and federal ministers for commerce and food and agriculture and Governor Sate Bank of Pakistan, a copy of which has been obtained by Dawn, he appealed for convening a joint meeting of the commerce ministry, the TCP, growers and millers representatives to resolve this important issue.

Mr Mahessar said that around 400,000 tons of rice of Sindh and Balochistan have been damaged or discoloured to the extent of 10 to 20 per cent valued at Rs5 billion. He said this had had adverse effect on the economy of the country as well as rice industry of both the provinces.

Mr Mahessar said that due to unexpected and untimely rains in Sindh and Balochistan, huge paddy stocks, which are normally kept under the open sky in mills, have been badly damaged. He said the governments of many rice growing countries, including Thailand, due to the tsunami and inclement weather conditions have started support programme for their rice growers and millers by providing them subsidy.

Mr Mahessar appealed to the Prime Minister and other ministers concerned to immediately direct the authorities to look into the situation with a view to averting major crisis in the two provinces.

He said, due to high prices of rice in the global market, some countries which consume cheap rice including damaged and discoloured rice such as Bangladesh and African countries can be approached for the disposal of Pakistan’s damaged rice.

He said that the TCP may be directed to negotiate deals with these countries. He further said that the commercial banks should also be advised to extend the pay-back period against rice stocks from June to August with no mark-up rate and penalty.