BADIN, Dec 2: Representatives of agricultural organizations have called upon the president and prime minister to waive off loans of calamity-hit farmers of the district and announce a special package for their rehabilitation.

In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, the president of the Laar Abadgar Association, Mr Jabbar Gopang, and leaders of the Chamber of Agriculture, Mr Nawaz Memon and Mr Mohammad Ali Shah, said that tail-end farmers and all those hit by floods and rains deserved a special package by the federal government because they had become bankrupt due to water shortage, cyclones, floods, heavy rains and breaches in the LBOD.

They said that the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, commercial banks and other financial institutions had failed to implement any package for the people of the area. They appealed to the president to waive off the principal amount of agricultural loans up to Rs100,000 and 50 per cent of the capital amount on Rs500,000.

The remaining amount should be payable in five years in easy instalments. They urged that farmers be exempted from payment of revenue arrears and given subsidy of Rs200,000 for purchase of tractors.

They said that farmers be given mark-up free loans recoverable after five years. They appealed to the Sindh governor and chief minister to recommend a special package for the farming community of the district.