LARKANA: The plunge of US dollar would prove to be temporary if the volume of agriculture export was not increased to the extent of 40 to 60 per cent, the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) Larkana chapter in its meeting here on Saturday maintained.

In a meeting presided by SCA Larkana chapter Sirajul Olyia Rashdi, resolution was stressed on adopting policy of ‘crop rotation’.

Placing a host of proposals, the meeting suggested to convert agriculture into an ‘authority’ and fixing the procurement price of wheat at Rs2,500 per 40kg, basmati rice Rs3,500 per 40kg, maize Rs2,100 per 40kg, sugarcane Rs450 per 40kg canola Rs7,000 per 40kg and cotton Rs8,500 per 40kg.

The participants discussed the prevailing conditions with reference to agriculture sector and proposed fixing rate of DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser at Rs8,000 per bag, along with ensuring importing 50 million bags for at least one year. At least 130 million bags of urea fertilisers should be prepared in the country, and its rate per bag should be fixed at Rs2100, they said.

The chamber demanded increasing gas supplies to the fertilizer factories with three times increase in its tariff. It also called for tightening import policy for pesticides and import tax should be deducted in Karachi at the time of import.

The chamber of was confident that by taking the proposed measures the country would not only double the agriculture produce, but also turn self-sufficient.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2022