MULTAN, Jan 2: Federal Minister for Agriculture Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has said the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its agreements are a threat to the country’s fragile economy.

He was speaking at a gathering of agricultural scientists, researchers and representatives of farming community here on Thursday at the Central Cotton Research Institution on old Shujaabad Road.

Mr Rind said after the introduction of WTO regime in 2005, industrial and agricultural products of other countries would be available in the country on much cheaper rates as compared to the domestic products.

“It will be a tough time for both industrial and agricultural sectors which can only be overcome through joint efforts.”

On the growers’ demand of subsidies, he said: “I know America is the largest subsidy-provider to its farm sector in the world and India stands among top-10 nations which subsidizes their growers. But we cannot do this despite having will. We have to follow the dictates of the donors. Our’s is a dependent economy.”

He said despite the donors’ pressure, the government was giving Rs12 billion subsidy per annum to the fertilizer industry only on gas consumption. The new government was working on a relief package for the farm sector, he added.

He hinted at his efforts to increase the wheat support price saying: “If the government does not enhance the support price, at least the price of Rs300 per 40kgs will be ensured.”

Mr Rind urged the scientists and researches to focus on better per acre yield and quality of the produce to meet the future requirements of the country and its population.

He said the future of the country’s agriculture was in Balochistan and stressed to tap the resources of the province.

He hoped that with the completion of Katchi canal project the share of Balochistan in the country’s total cotton production would be increased to 700,000 bales from current 100,000 bales. The Meerani Dam project would further improve the agriculture of Balochistan, he added.

He said he would deal with the Multan-based cotton seed mafia sternly which was notorious for making exorbitant profits. He pledged to bring the Central Cotton Research Institution of Sakrand, Sindh, at par with the Multan institute.

Replying to the points raised by the growers’ representatives, he said textile and sugar industries were very much part of the agriculture sector and his ministry would also take care of their interests.

A grower from Khanewal district, Farhatullah, mentioned the failure of CLCV-resistant varieties and said farmers had doubts whether the cotton virus was a natural phenomenon or it was a part of modern days biological warfare to ruin the country’s economy.

Earlier, CCRI director Islam Gill briefed the minister about achievements and future plan of the institution.

He said the Punjab government had set minimum standards for the future cotton varieties which included yield of 35 maunds per acre, ginning out-turn 35 per cent, micronaire 4.8 per cent, fibre strength 90 TPPSI (thousand pounds per square inch) and staple length (27mm and above).

He said the requirement of domestic textile industry viz-a-viz staple length at present was medium long, 82 per cent; long, 17 per cent; and extra long 1 per cent.

He claimed that the scientists working here had been succeeded in reducing the cotton crop period to 120-130 days from earlier 200-210 and 170-180 days. It would help timely sowing of the next crop, like wheat, he added.

He also briefed the minister about the resurgence of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus and demanded a complete ban on sowing of BT variety.