KHAIRPUR, Oct 8: Sindh Agriculture Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi has said that a date research institute is being established in Kotdiji, which will include laboratories and cold storages for research on date trees and a dehydration plant will also be set up between Babarloi and Therhi talukas of Khairpur.

He was talking to farmers in a meeting held at the Circuit House here on Tuesday. He said that a dry port would also be established in Khairpur for which the government’s land was available and a summary in this regard would soon be submitted to the Sindh chief minister for approval.

He said that a vegetable/date market would also be set up over 100 acres in Khairpur.

The secretary said that date growers would be provided with date dryers to dry date fruit; for which 25 per cent cost would be paid by the abadgars whereas the remaining 75 per cent would be paid by the government.

He said that cold storages would also be established to store the dates in Khairpur so that the fruit could be stored for six to 12 months. He said that in the first phase, Agricultural Service Centres would be established in eight districts of the province.

He said that about 591,000 tons of urea fertilizer and 241,000 tons of DAP fertilizer were required for the current autumn crops but due to high prices of DAP, growers preferred to use urea fertilizers for their crops.

The official said that more than 700,000 tons of urea fertilizer was purchased but due to black marketing, hoarding and mismanagement it could not be supplied to the growers at proper rate and on time.

He said that an agreement had been signed with Saudi Arabia to purchase 800,000 tons urea, which would reach in two instalments ie 400,000 tons during Kharif and 400,000 tons during Rabbi.