HYDERABAD, Jan 5: Two major representative bodies of farmers see a conspiracy behind moves that result in harming agriculture sector, and claim that vested interests are out to defame the people’s government.

They expressed concern over shortage and blackmarketing of fertiliser, destruction of rice crop, negligence of Passco in procuring rice on time, ban on agricultural implements and decrepit condition of the RBOD and Manchhar Lake.

A meeting of the Sindh Abadgar Board presided over by Abdul Majeed Nizamani slammed the government for mishandling distribution of 600,000 tons of imported urea and saw it as a conspiracy against the democratic government.

The meeting observed that the agriculture sector and the overall economy of the country was being undermined by vested interests and demanded that the president and prime minister order an inquiry into change in the process of fertiliser distribution, which created an opportunity for many to skim millions of rupees.

The meeting called it a foolish decision and demanded that the urea be distributed through fertiliser companies and that the faces who had undermined the established system of distribution of urea be exposed.

The meeting said that rise in CNG prices should be withdrawn and pointed out despite a fall in prices of oil in the world market its price in Pakistan was still stuck at $135.

The meeting criticised wheat import and called upon the government to control smuggling, hoarding and profiteering of wheat and deplored loss of tens of millions of rupees to rice growers from heavy rains and criminal negligence by Passco, which failed to procure rice on time.

The meeting said that Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Shahdadkot, Shikarpur and Dadu, which had produced bumper crop, had lost 600,000 tons of paddy to rains. Besides, rains also destroyed gram, oilseeds and other crops by 80 per cent, the meeting said.

The meeting demanded a transparent survey to assess total losses and inquiry into criminal negligence by Passco. Entire rice belt should be declared as calamity-hit and growers should be exempted from payment of land revenue and loans taken this year and payment of old loans should be deferred, the meeting suggested.

The meeting said that rice seed should be supplied to growers free of cost for the upcoming Kharif season, and urged the government to emulate the Punjab government by offering tractors at subsidised rates.

The other major growers body, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, at a meeting, urged the government to direct cotton factories to clear dues of growers, amounting to tens of millions of rupees.

The meeting condemned blackmarketing of urea fertiliser, especially in Mirpurkhas, and urged the government to take effective measures to check the menace.

The meeting accused the irrigation department of hatching a conspiracy to destroy wheat crop by closing down Naseer and Jamrao canals well before the scheduled time.

The meeting demanded that the irrigation department carry out desilting of waterways and strengthen embankment and direct sugar mill owners be clear growers’ dues.