HYDERABAD, Jan 8: The Sindh Abadgar Board has expressed concern over continuing increases in prices of agricultural inputs on the pretext of rise in international market prices. The working committee of the board which met here on Sunday observed that the current petroleum prices had been fixed in June last year when the price of oil had gone up in the international market. It, however, noted that prices of Arabian crude had come down but the benefit had not been passed on to consumers and the government was making billions of rupees under this head.

It observed that the poor, especially growers, were the main sufferers due to the inordinate increase in prices of essential commodities.

The meeting criticized the increase in the price of gas on the pretext that producers were suffering losses. It said this reasoning was incomprehensible because all companies dealing in gas were making hefty profits.

It pointed out that it had been announced that the price of gas being supplied to the fertilizer industry would not be increased but the fact was that fertilizer prices in the market had gone up by Rs2 per bag.

The meeting said the increase in the price of gas and subsequent increase in prices of fertilizers would badly affect growers because at this point of time, fertilizer had to be used for the wheat crop.

It claimed that most of commodities, including cotton, wheat, paddy, onions and chillies, were being sold even below the cost of production this year.

It said the agricultural economy was in a shambles, adding that fertilizer, oil and gas, cement, automobile, chemicals and sugar factories were fleecing consumers.

The m5eeting feared that the prevailing state of affairs would lead to lesser production of essential commodities because growers would not be able to use proper and appropriate inputs because of the high prices.

It was of the opinion that the country would have to spend billions of dollars on the import of wheat and sugar and other essential goods if corrective measures were not adopted.

The board also expressed concern over the delay in the de-silting of canals. It pointed out that canals had been closed but the irrigation department had not provided a schedule of de-silting to growers.

It said farmers of Ghotki, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Dadu and other districts had complained to the board about the current de-silting campaign.