Measures for agriculture development reviewed
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday chaired a meeting to discuss the modalities for implementation of relief measures for agriculture sector announced in the budget 2016-17.
The meeting discussed in detail the subsidy on fertilisers announced in the budget and the mechanism for its disbursement, and it was decided that the subsidy would be provided through a joint federal and provincial package for farmers.
The meeting also discussed other agriculture related measures and decided to continue close liaison and coordination for country-wide impact on the agriculture sector.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, provincial finance and agriculture ministers and senior officials of relevant ministries attended the meeting.
Mr Dar said that the government had given due priority to the agriculture sector in the budget, and hoped that the measures announced by the federal government will be complemented by the provincial governments with a view to ensure that the decline in agricultural growth is reversed and the sector achieves a healthy growth rate in accordance with its potential.
He referred to the decrease in fertiliser prices by the industry and stated that it was made possible after lengthy negotiations with the manufacturers. He emphasised that the provincial governments should continue to demonstrate the spirit of cooperation for the promotion of the vital agriculture sector.
Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2016