MULTAN, Aug 15: Despite the ECC decision to apply zero-rated tariff on the import of mineral oil, a catalyst for pesticides to control the mealy bug virus, the ministries of agriculture and finance were dragging their feet on implementation of the decision.

Mineral oil was tested on cotton crop last year to control mealy bug in four different federal and provincial research institutes -- Plant Protection Institute, Faisalabad, Entomological Research Institute, Faisalabad, Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan and Agriculture Pest Warning and Quality Control Punjab.

These institutions positively evaluated the product as it was found to speed up the efficacy of the pesticides.

On their recommendations on April 3, 2008, the Agricultural Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee (Aptac) decided to request to the provincial governments to educate the farmers on using the mineral oil and encourage the importers to import to ensure timely availability of quality pesticides.

The ECC, in its meeting on July 15, decided that the mineral oil import will be zero rated.

According to sources the delay is deliberate and is meant to support the vested interests in the pesticide sector.

President Kissan Board Tehsil Multan Fayazul Hassan Bhutta said that after the availability of mineral oil the usage of insecticides will be reduced five times.

He said that with the mineral oil only 20 millilitre insecticides would be enough against one litre while the required number of sprays will also be reduced.

Federal Board of Revenue chairman Ahmed Waqar was not available for comments while additional secretary Minfal Raja Shahid Hussain told Dawn that the ministry had sent proposal to the Federal Board of Revenue for the implementation of zero-rated tariff on the import of mineral oil but FBR had some apprehensions on the misuse of mineral oil. He hoped that the SRO would be issued within two days.