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MULTAN, Jan 04 (APP):Pakistan Kisan Ittehad (PKI) President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar on Sunday warned that the country’s agriculture sector is facing a severe decline and called for immediate government intervention, including the declaration of an agriculture emergency.
Addressing a press conference at the Multan Press Club, Khokhar said farmers were suffering heavy losses as they were unable to recover even their production costs. He pointed out that a 120-kg bag of new potatoes, which previously sold for around Rs 8,000, is now being sold for as low as Rs 1,800. He demanded that the government immediately start purchasing potatoes from farmers and export them at the official level.
He said farmers work throughout the year but remain neglected by policymakers. Criticizing the price control authorities, Khokhar said they have failed to protect farmers’ interests and demanded the removal of officials who lack an understanding of agriculture.
The PKI chief alleged that domestic and agricultural solar net metering had been illegally suspended to benefit Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and demanded its immediate restoration. He also called for fixing electricity rates for agricultural tubewells at a maximum of Rs15 per unit and ending overbilling.
Khokhar demanded that support prices for all major crops be announced at least one year in advance. He said wheat should be procured at Rs4,000 per 40 kg with on-the-spot payments to farmers, adding that farmers sold wheat at around Rs 2,000 per 40 kg, consumers were now forced to buy flour at much higher prices.
He further demanded incentives of at least Rs50,000 per acre to revive cotton cultivation, the introduction of a comprehensive crop insurance system, and the establishment of an independent price commission for crops. He also criticized the sharp increase in abiana, claiming it has been raised by 300 to 500 per cent.
Stressing the need for increased investment in agricultural research, Khokhar proposed allocating at least two per cent of the national budget for this purpose and warned that reduced fertilizer use is further damaging agricultural productivity.
Announcing future actions, he said Pakistan Kisan Ittehad would present a charter of demands for the revival of agriculture and warned that if genuine demands were not accepted, farmers will stage a protest outside the Punjab Assembly on January 26.
He concluded by saying that farmers were among the most patriotic segments of society and urged the government to “save the farmer to save agriculture.”