Committee: Farmers propose price-setting commission

Currently, Sindh Agriculture Department fixes support prices, but farmers complain they rarely get that price.

HYDERABAD:

The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) has called for constituting a permanent price commission to set support prices for crops following a proper assessment of the expenditures made by growers.

At present, the Sindh Agriculture Department fixes support prices in consultation with the stakeholders, but farmers complain that their point of view is rarely considered.

“The commission should have representation from the government, farmers and those who procure the crops,” said SCA President Dr Syed Nadeem Qamar while chairing an executive committee meeting on Friday. “It should also ensure that the farmers are paid according to the support price.”

He said even the set support price was denied to the growers. Citing an example, he said support prices for cotton and sugarcane were Rs3,600 per maund (40kg) and Rs154 per maund, respectively, but in many instances the farmers did not get these prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.