LAHORE: Sugar millers have been allowed export of sugar on the promise that they will start cane crushing in time, besides procuring the crop from farmers at the prescribed support price.

This was stated by Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Langerial while talking to a delegation of Kisan Ittehad here on Sunday.

The farmers’ delegation led by retired Capt Muhammad Hussain presented a 13-point charter of demands to the minister who assured them their issues would be resolved on priority basis. The charter included demands of maintaining power tariff for tube-wells at Rs5.35 per unit and freezing the recovery of arrears, imposing a complete ban on import of fruit and vegetables and provision of certified seed.

Mr Langerial held the government policies during last 10 years responsible for the problems being faced by the agriculture sector plunging small landholders into crisis.

The minister said as the foremost problem of the farmers was sale of fake pesticides and non-availability of seed and fertilizers, his department would play a proactive role in checking the counterfeit insecticides and heavy fines would be imposed on those involved in the ugly business.

Timely availability of certified seed and fertilizers would also be ensured, he said, adding the agriculture marketing system was also being changed to ensure a better return to the growers for their produce.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018