Govt urged to take agri sector on board

Suggestions included interest-free loans for landholders in flood-hit areas and abolition of taxes on farm produce.

KARACHI: Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters, Importers and Traders Association has urged the government to convene provincial conventions of stakeholders from the agriculture sector.

It has requested the government to constitute a special committee at the federal level to advise on rehabilitation of the country’s farmers and traders of fruits and vegetables.

“We have written letters to Federal Board of Revenue, State Bank of Pakistan, Kissan Foundation and Federal Minister of Commerce, recommending steps that can help get flood-affected farmers back on their feet,” Chairman of the association Waheed Ahmed told The Express Tribune.

Suggestions included interest-free loans for small landholders in flood-hit areas and abolition of duties and taxes on farm produce.

“Pakistani fruit exports are subject to 17 per cent duty in Europe, 45 per cent duty in Iran and 15 per cent duty in Indonesia,” explained Ahmed, adding that “our government should urge these, and other countries, to abolish duties on Pakistani exports to help the agriculture sector.”

Stakeholders have also urged the government to urgently provide seeds, fertiliser and other inputs to farmers. They have advocated the supply of hybrid seeds and revamping of the irrigation system, as much of the existing infrastructure has to be rebuilt or fixed.

They have warned that food security of the nation may be challenged in coming months if the sector is not rehabilitated.

Ahmed also lamented the agriculture sector’s lack of representation in, and access to, federal institutions. He highlighted that agriculture, the mainstay of the economy and employer of significant population, is the most adversely affected sector in the wake of recent floods.

He said that the government should bring representatives of agriculture sector and experts together on the provincial and federal levels to formulate a recovery plan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2010.