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Minfal formed sub-committees to boost agri sector

RECORDER REPORT

Islamabad: A number of sub-committees were formed to transform farm sector from subsistence to commercial farming by increasing productivity, with the aim to raise the standard of living of the small farmers.

This was disclosed by Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Shafqat Ali Shah Jamote while talking to reporters, after the first meeting of advisory committee on agriculture, held here on Tuesday.

Jamote said that these sub-committees consisting of farmers, experts and officials of the Minfal are formed with an aim to make policies for increasing productivity by implementation of support price mechanism and by giving good return to farmers by a better marketing system.

He said that a committee has been formed to suggest measures to improve livestock productivity. Another committee would workout the modalities of price stabilisation fund and commodity boards.

Jamote said that the country growth rate was over 11 percent but this growth rate has come down to 0.35 percent in 1998-99.

He said that this growth rate could be increased by agriculture as inspite of dwindling investment in agriculture, the production of major crops has increased 5-10 times over the last five decades.

The minister said that the demand of Pakistan Sugar Mill Association on allowing export of sugar is under review and yet no decision has been taken. He, however, estimated that the country has an exportable surplus of 0.3 million tonnes of sugar taking into account the carry over surplus from last year's production.

He estimated the domestic sugar production this year at 3.1 million tonnes as against the production of 3.5 million tonnes of last year. He counted the annual domestic sugar consumption of the country at three million tonnes.

Jamote said that the country is self-sufficient in all crops except edible oil and tea and efforts are being made to increase productivity of both to reduce the import bill.

The minister said that the handing over of wheat import to the private sector is under consideration but biggest hurdle in the way is that the traders import low quality wheat for their profits.

He attributed the deficiency in flour supply due to the smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan while rejecting the impression that the country is deficient in wheat production. However, he said that the country would have a surplus wheat this year and earnest efforts would be made to control deficiency in supply by better distribution system.

Jamote said that the inter provincial ban on wheat movement could be lifted only by the mutual provincial agreement, as it comes under provincial jurisdiction and federal government has no say in it.

The minister said that the committee also decided that every water course should be lined at least upto 300 metres.

He was hopeful that the on-going desiltation campaign will produce more availability of water at the tant of the canals.