The pulses buyback mechanism will be profitable for farmers and it will surely entice them to boost their cultivation, said Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam.
Speaking as a chief guest at the annual review and planning meeting of Rabi 2021-22 on Thursday, the minister said that the government was taking appropriate steps for enhancing the output of pulses.
He assured farmers of complete support of his ministry in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses production.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) scientist Muhammad Mansoor talked about PARC’s project titled “Promoting research for productivity enhancement in pulses”.
He informed the participants that moong output soared to 209,000 tons during the first year (2019-20) of project commencement from 133,000 tons.
“Project activities played a pivotal role in increasing the produce by distributing certified seeds of high-yielding varieties and conducting farmer training for dissemination of improved production technology,” he said.
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He voiced hope that the country would produce moong in surplus during the current year (2021-22) and cited that according to early estimates, the production of the crop would stand at 253,000 tons while the national requirement was calculated at 180,000 tons.
He elaborated on the pulses buyback mechanism with indicative prices, which was lauded by the participants.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Food Security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema said that the mechanism would be a sigh of relief for the farmers because they would be able to receive a fair share in their produce.
He lamented that the farmers were receiving lower prices for their crops due to undue interference by the middlemen.
“Moreover, it will be economical for the consumers as they will be able to buy pulses at lower rates,” he added.
While praising the strategy, Cheema predicted that farmers would certainly cultivate pulses once they were sure of getting the remuneration they deserved.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2021.
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