ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, on Wednesday said that the government is fully aware of the farmers’ needs and has provided them variety of incentives to cover up their income shortfall, due to stagnation in international market.
“Agriculture is backbone of our economy and the government has facilitated farmers through various incentives to cover up their income shortfall,” the minister said, while addressing a news conference in front of the Parliament House.
The minister said, some opposition parties are bent upon politicking on this issue, but Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) would not let the opposition to play with the sentiments of poor farmers.
While talking about the measures taken by the government, he said, in 2013 the price of a urea fertiliser bag was Rs 2,050, which has been reduced to Rs 1,400 by the present government. Similarly, the price of DAP fertiliser was Rs 3,900 per bag, which has been reduced to Rs 2,650.
Furthermore, the minister said the price of electricity for the tube wells has been reduced to Rs 5.35 per unit from Rs 10.50 per unit. “For provision of this facility to our farmers, the government would pay to power sector Rs 27 billion,” he added.
He also mentioned the payment of Rs 5,000 per acre to small farmers, as cash support to cover up their income shortfall in rice and cotton crops. Under this mechanism, 50 percent amount had to be paid by the federal government and 50 percent by respective provincial governments, he added. The minister said that the Punjab government had provided its 50 percent share and payment was made to all eligible farmers in Punjab province, while other provinces could not manage their portion of the payment, so they are lagging behind in facilitating their farmers.
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