Ban on maize cultivation criticised

It has been banned due to the security reason as the crop provide perfect hiding places to miscreants

DIR LOWER:

A Jirga of local elders of Maidan Tehsil, Dir Lower has demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the ban on the cultivation of maize in the Tehsil as it was an important staple of the local food since ancient times. They hit out at the FIRs registered against the local formers for cultivating maize and said that it was unjust.

It is worth mentioning here that the maize cultivation has been banned due to the security reason as the crop provide perfect hiding places to miscreants who uses it to stage attacks.

“Maize is an important food staple in the area and banning it means starvation for most of the small farmers and their families. Government should take other measures to improve security and law and order situation in the area,” they said, adding that Maidan was not situated on the Pak-Afghan border where such strict security measures are required.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2021.