SHIKARPUR, Nov 14: Growers of Shikarpur, like other parts of Sindh, are unhappy with the unilateral decision of grain merchants and rice millers to raise paddy price from Rs500 to Rs600 per 40kg.

They term the prices against the interest of growers who are already reeling under the rate burden of certified seed, fertiliser, labour and transportation which stands at Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 per acre.

They even criticise Passco for fixing Rs700 for 40kg paddy.

A grower and President Grain Merchants and Rice Mill Owner Association Shikarpur chapter Haji Nisar Ahmed Memon and General Secretary of Sindh Abadgar Board Amir Bux Pahore are also concerned at poor attention of the government towards growers’ problems who are capable of bailing the government out from food crisis.

They say Sindh is producing more rice than any other province with Shikarpur district being the major producer which stipulates reasonable paddy price for growers, perhaps Rs900 per 40kg as decided in a meeting of growers and Passco management.

Millers and grain merchants are offering an option to buy paddy at the rate of Rs900 per 40kg subject to Passco’s written assurance to purchase the same at Rs1,400 per 40kg.

They demand that not few selected but all mills in the district should be authorised to purchase paddy on behalf of Passco.—BoC