KARACHI: The provision of cheaper inputs especially DAP fertiliser, and a better price to farmers is the only answer to check the rising trend in food prices. These views were expressed by leading farm leaders in Sindh while talking to Dawn.
They suggested that to discourage wheat smuggling its official procurement price should be made at par with those prevailing in India and Afghanistan. This would not only encourage farmers to grow more but would save millions of dollars to the national exchequer on wheat import.
The Chairman, Sindh Agriculture Chamber, Syed Qamar-uz-Zaman Shah, said that if the government seriously wanted to increase production of food crops it has to ensure provision of agricultural inputs at cheaper prices.
The prices of DAP fertiliser, which is the most vital input, have jumped to Rs3,000 per 50 kg bag. Expensive electricity and oil are also adding to farmers’ worries.
He suggested that flour mills should be allowed to keep their annual stocks because the present practice of monthly supplies by the government is hampering mills’ smooth functioning.
Syed Qamar Shah complained that the province was not getting its due share of water as per its allocated quota.
He said that farmers should be offered loans on 8 per cent. However, he said that farm loans should be insured to encourage disbursement from the banks.
The President of Sindh Abadgar Board, Abdul Majid Nizamani, said that if the government would have to give due importance to the agriculture sector if it wanted to achieve sustained economic growth.
Mr Nizamani said the lesser use of DAP fertiliser owing to its higher prices has decreased per acre yield of wheat to 24 maunds.
The Abadgar Board chief said that the government spent $2,750 million on import of wheat. It could have saved $1,300 million if it procured wheat from farmers at Rs1,000 per maund.
He said that of the 22 million tons of wheat this year the country could have easily exported 1.5 million tons, but a large part of it was smuggled to India and Afghanistan due to stark price difference.
Nizamani further said that the government could hardly procure 5 million tons of wheat while the same quantity is slipped into the hands of traders who hoard it for creating artificial shortage leading the prices to a higher level.
He warned that if the government did not ensure regular stocks and supply of wheat the flour price might jump to Rs40 per kg in July.
Mahmood Nawaz, a leading agriculturist, said that the government should provide DAP on subsidised rates of Rs1,500 per 50 kg bag against the prevailing market price of Rs3,000. This would ensure increased production and could save the country from incurring cost on importing one million tons of wheat at Rs45 million.
He suggested that the wheat support price should be Rs1,000 per maund. This would discourage hoarding and smuggling and would save the money thus earned in going to the black economy. The country would have enough wheat and there would be no need to import wheat at double the rate prevailing in the country. The money thus saved in foreign exchange could be spent on providing subsidy to consumers to buy wheat flour.
Sindh Cane Commissioner Nazar Mohammad Baloch said that the government should force sugar mills to start crushing in November so that land is vacated for sowing wheat early as at that time water is also available in abundance.
Mr Baloch called for focusing on research to develop better varieties of sugarcane, which could give yield with better sucrose contents. He said that Rs150 million was collected every year from cess on cane paid by the farmers and mills. This amount should be utilized for setting up a research institute to develop better varieties of cane.