ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Yar Muhammad Rind on Monday said government subsidy for the major crops would continue despite pressure of the donor agencies.
While talking to APP after inaugurating 23rd session of FAO Commission for controlling the desert Locust in Southwest Asia here on Monday at local hotel he said ongoing farmer-friendly policies would not only continue but these would be made more beneficial for the growers.
Replying to a question about relief for the drought affected people the minister said “they are being provided necessary assistance to mitigate their sufferings.”
He said the government will prepare a comprehensive programme for the benefit of drought stricken area and people. However, some concessions with regard to provision of seeds and other inputs besides relaxation in revenue collection are being provided to the affected people, he said.
To another question, Yar Muhammad Rind said, Punjab government decision with regard to reduction in the interest rate on loans for farmers is a very good step and farmers should be provided such facilities to boost their production.
“I have a desire to do so but resource constraint does not allow. Even then we would consider the issue,” he added.
Earlier, inaugurating the workshop the Minister for Food and Agriculture said Pakistan is greatly interested in international cooperation and it maintains an effective Anti-Locust Organization under the Department of Plant Protection for articulated desert locust survey and control.
The organization not only operates within the country but also intends to assist the United Arab Emirates and other Arabian Peninsula and ECO countries in locust survey and control under the auspices of the FAO, he said adding, “our association with the participation in campaigns of other countries are based on mutual cooperation and goodwill.”
Rind said the desert locust is a migratory pest and its swarms are known to cover distance of one thousand to two thousand kilometres or even more between their source area and the area in which they breed.
As a result of its migratory character, it is distributed over a wide geographical area covering nearly 60 countries from Morocco in North-West Africa to Pakistan and India in the East, he added.
In the past, this pest had been responsible for causing several famines and affected adversely the agricultural production in the area of invasion, he said.
Agriculture Minister said as desert locust is an international pest and poses threat to many countries, therefore, the need for cooperation and joint action among the affected countries is greater in locust surveillance and control than in any other field of Plan Protection.
It has been realized that the menace could be far more effectively tackled by pooling the resources of the affected countries and by coordination and cooperation at international level, he added.
Realizing the need for an international action, FAO has established several commission depending on the geographical position of the affected countries, he said adding, the South-West Asia Commission was established for coordination and cooperation among four member countries namely Afghanistan, Iran, India and Pakistan.
Mr. Abul Naga, FAO representative in Pakistan also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the issue and underscored the need for evolving measures to combat Locust.—APP