Surging Input Cost Big Threat To Agriculture: Kissan Ittehad

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar said on Sunday that increasing cost of inputs was a big threat to agriculture sector.

He said this while holding a press conference at local press club.

He stated that farming had become impossible for the peasants due to rising cost of inputs especially electricity tariff for tube-well and fertilizers. Late year, agriculture sector made growth of 6.5 percent which was higher if compared to other sectors. Industry improved with one percent growth, he remarked.

He lamented that government announced incentives for industry but ignored agriculture sector. The electricity price of agriculture remained always low, comparing to industry. However, this time the electricity price is high in agriculture sector against the industry.

Khokhar maintained that that Pakistan owned huge resources to excel in all field but it was importing agri products worth 10 to 12 billion Dollars annually.

The Chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad stated that per acre production was high in neighbourly if compared the Pakistan. He added that the difference of per acre production was due to cost of inputs. In Pakistan, cost of inputs is increasing with fast pace and the peasants are unable to apply inputs properly.

Khokhar feared that there would be food security issue in future as the farmers would not be able to cultivate wheat. He added that there would be 40 to 50 percent decline in wheat cultivation in upcoming season.

The chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad strongly criticized the owners of IPPs and stated that IPPs was main reason behind many issues including agriculture. The people are selling their households to manage electricity bills, he added.

He appealed power corridors to take up the matter of IPPs urgently otherwise agriculture sector would collapse. He also called for revisiting IPPs agreements.

Khalid Khokhar stated that nearly 25 IPPs were given billions of rupees but they did not contributed even a single unit in national system.

Khokhar also lamented that farmers were not availing due price against their produce. Out of total one million tube-wells, the government is going to energize only 1700 tube-wells through solar system.

He demanded relief for tube-well consumers to manage agriculture.

The Chairman Kissan Ittehad, expressing concern stated that government imposed 17 percent GST on food of buffalos.

He posed question how would it be possible for the cattle dealer to rear animals and masses to purchase pure milk.

He also warned to come streets along with their animals in case their demands were not heeded.

To a question about any shortage of wheat in near future, Khokhar claimed that he did not see any shortage in near future however next year would be alarming for wheat production.

APP/Atf

1435 hrs