‘Exports to Russia to ease potato price pressure’

LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture Farrukh Javed told the Provincial Assembly on Wednesday that farmers across the province were facing serious financial problems, including low prices for their crop and delay in receipt of payments.

The issue had been raised on a point of order. Lawmakers urged the speaker to set up a committee to resolve grievances of farmers.

“I agree with the honourable members that paddy, sugarcane and potato farmers are facing problems in the Punjab. Their payments are late and they are not being paid fair prices for their crops. These are marketing issues and do not reflect the government’s agriculture policy. Production of crops is good and improving. The government is taking action against mill owners delaying payments and not paying the fixed minimum rates,” he told the House.

The minister said there was no ban on export of potatoes.

“Potato exports will pick up after February 15 when we begin exporting to Russia,” he said. He said potatoes from the Punjab were already being exported to Sri Lanka.

The speaker fixed a day for a debate on agriculture in this session.  The House passed four bills in Wednesday’s session. The Punjab Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015, The Infrastructure Development Authority of the Punjab Bill, The Punjab Food Authority (Amendment) Bill and The Punjab Pure Food (Amendment) Bill 2015 were passed by the assembly.

Another bill titled the Punjab Animal Slaughter Control (Amendment) Bill 2016 was introduced in the house. The session was adjourned till Thursday morning on completion of agenda.  Earlier, opposition members, led by Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed boycotted proceedings of the session in token protest against Tuesday’s action against protesting PIA workers. They held a brief sit-in on the steps of the assembly building. “Such actions bring back memories of the violence in Model Town,” he said.

“This government has failed to provide relief to the people. They continue to oppress workers protesting against unjust policies,” he said. Khurrum Wattoo of PPP said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed were responsible for the Karachi violence  Waseem Akhtar of Jamaat-i-Islami said his party supported the PIA workers across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th,  2016.