‘Balochistan facing urea shortage’

Baloch pointed out that 80% of local population depends on agriculture for livelihood

QUETTA:

Balochistan National Party-Awami (BAP-A) Central Secretary-General Mir Asadullah Baloch has said that the farmers of the province are not being provided urea fertilizer in accordance with their requirements.

Addressing a press conference alongside Agriculture Secretary Umid Ali at his office, he said that farmers have been provided 51,502 tonnes of fertilizer when they need 108,168 tonnes, thus recording a shortage of 56,666 tonnes.

“Farmers across the country are protesting,” he said. “We will raise our voice in a democratic manner at every forum together with our farmers.”

Baloch pointed out that 80 percent of the local population depends on agriculture for their livelihood.

"We are trying to provide facilities to landlords. There is a shortage of urea fertilizer in the country and the people of Naseerabad Division are completely dependent on agriculture," he said.

Read Urea price inches closer to prescribed rates

Giving a breakdown of the figure, he said that 53,498 tonnes are required in Naseerabad while 20, 298 tonnes have been supplied there. Similarly, he added, Sibi division needs 11,547 tonnes while 5,023 tonnes have been supplied there.

He further said that Makran Division needs 2,011 tonnes but so far nothing has been supplied. The BAP-A leader said that chief secretary of Balochistan, along with his department, was taking steps to stop the smuggling of urea fertilizer.

“We are trying to provide urea fertilizer to the people of Balochistan as per their requirement,” he said. “We are working for a peaceful solution to this problem.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2022.