SWABI: The growers here on Sunday expressed their concern over increasing prices of fertiliser and demanded that the prices should be reduced as this put a big financial burden on them.

They were speaking during a meeting organised by Kisan Board (KB), a wing of farmers associated with Jamaat-i-Islami, here in Chota Lahor tehsil. It was attended by growers from across Swabi district and periphery regions.

The participants discussed their problems and adopted a resolution in which they showed concern over the increasing prices of fertilisers and high inflation during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.

They also unanimously rejected the Rs214 per kilogramme tobacco price in the current year, saying the government’s policy was creating more financial difficulties for the farmers. They claimed the agriculture policy also favoured the big landlords.

Kisan Board provincial president Rizwanullah Khan said the price of a bag of DAP fertiliser had jumped to Rs5,000 from Rs4,050 a month ago, weakening the financial position of farmers.

“With this increase the tobacco and vegetable growers will face serious problems,” he said.

Central general secretary of the board Abdul Samad said if the prices were not reduced the farmers might be forced to say goodbye to their profession.

KB district president Khalid Khan said the government had failed to prevail upon the tobacco businessmen to pay millions of rupees of outstanding amount to the farmers.

They announced that Kashtkar Convention would be held in Mardan on March 6.

KILLED: A man was shot dead in Gar Munara village here on Sunday, said police.

They said Ziyad Ahmad was having friendship with one Jawad Khan, but Anwar Saeed of the same village was not happy over it. It was stated that Saeed and Ziyad had exchanged hot words which culminated in opening of firing by the former. As a result, Ziyad was killed on the spot.

The police said that an FIR had been registered against Saeed in Zaida police station.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021