LARKANA: Lawmakers in the National and provincial assemblies are on the same page as none of them raise voice for farmers on the floor of the house.

This was claimed by Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) Larkana president Siraj-ul-Auliya in a press statement issued after presiding over a meeting of the organisation here on Wednesday.

He claimed that the rulers and opposition were squeezing framers as they had slashed the facility of interest-free loans to the landowners holding 12 acres of land.

Instead of taking measures for the betterment of the farmers, the present government had increased prices of oil, seed, fertilizer, insecticide, tractors and electricity tariff for tube wells only to multiply the problems of agriculture-related sector, he said. He asked the government to refrain from the steps increasing farmers’ difficulties.

Mr Auliya complained that agriculture products were purchased at lower prices from farmers in the market while by-products were sold at higher prices. Tomato was purchased at a minimum rate, but the prices of ketchup had never been reduced, he said.

Big traders dominating the market purchase cotton at a reduced rate while the rates of clothes never went down, he said. Wheat in the open market was sold at the rate of Rs1,100 to Rs1,300 per 40kg, but flour was sold at Rs2,500-Rs2,800, he added.

Similarly, paddy was also purchased from farmers at reduced rates, he said. Farmers sold sugar cane at throwaway prices, but the prices of sugar continued to swell, he said and questioned if anyone was there to hold those traders and businessmen accountable for enhancing rates at their sweet will.

He said the farmers’ community was a neglected section of society who had been fleeced by big traders. The farmers are forced to sell their commodities at lower rates despite the fact that they invested heavily in preparing crops, but they did not get reasonable procurement prices of their produce in the market, he said.

The government should understand the issues of the framers community and sincerely address them, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2020