LARKANA, Nov 26: A large number of farmers on Saturday held a rally in Shahdadkot, demanding proper procurement rates for paddy. Sindh Abadgar Board leader Ishaque Mughiri and Mir Mithal Mughiri took to the streets carrying banners and placards.

They chanted slogans over government’s apathy towards paddy growers marched on the main roads of town and assembled at the Kotoo-Motoo chowk.

They regretted that protests were perhaps landing on the deaf ears of government functionaries as it had failed to establish Passco’s procurement centres to purchase paddy from the growers and landlords.

They said that under compulsion, they were selling paddy at the rate of Rs290 per 40 kg.

They demanded that the government should fix Rs400 per 40 kilogram for (IRRI-6 and IRRI-9) varieties as support price where the Passco should be made responsible for purchase of the commodity.