Farmers demand wheat price hike

Availability of fertilisers, desilting of irrigation channels, problems faced by farmers discussed during meeting

LAHORE:

A delegation led by Kisan Ittehad chairman Chaudhry Khalid Hussain called on Punjab Senior Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and demanded increase in the support price of wheat and legislation to protect the interests of farmers.

Availability of fertilisers, desilting of irrigation channels and problems faced by farmers were discussed during the meeting.

The minister said the Punjab government stood with the farmers and would solve their problems related to the province on a priority basis. He said payment to the sugarcane farmers had been ensured through reforms in the relevant law. The department of industry and commerce has been directed to prevent reduction in sugarcane weight.

He said the demand of the farmers regarding increasing the wheat support price would be presented in a cabinet meeting and the complaints regarding cleaning of canals would be addressed.

If a canal in Punjab is found cleaned only in documents, action will be taken against those responsible, he said.

Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the licence of sellers of fake seeds and pesticide spray would be cancelled and cases would be registered against them. A control room will be set up to ensure the availability and sale of Fertilisers at the fixed prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2022.