Fleecing farmers: Growers complain of exploitation by mills

SCA general secretary criticises the government for importing 900,000 tons of wheat

HYDERABAD:

Farmers complain that mills are exploiting cotton, rice and sugarcane growers as the provincial government remains lax about the enforcement of procurement rates.

During a demonstration outside Hyderabad Press Club on Friday, the members of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), led by president Dr Nadeem Qamar, shouted slogans against the government's persistent failure in preventing this exploitation.

"The mills are forcing the cotton farmers to sell their produce at the rate of Rs2,200 per maund instead of the standard price of Rs3,000 per maund," said Dr Qamar, adding that the government has yet to declare the rates for the sugarcane crop, which he demanded should be fixed at Rs240 per 40 kilogrammes.

Meanwhile, SCA general secretary Nabi Bux Sathio criticised the government for importing 900,000 tons of wheat. "We repeatedly hear Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah saying that Sindh has produced a surplus crop this year," he said. "Then what's the need for the federal government to allow this import?" The farmers also demanded the revision of the 'irri' rice price, which has remained unchanged for four years. They warned that if the government did not take notice of their requests, they would stage sit-ins outside the rice, cotton and sugarcane mills.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2014.