Cane commissioner directed to help growers recover dues

Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) has urged the Punjab government to direct the cane commissioner to help growers recover their dues from millers. 'Sugar mills in Punjab have to pay Rs 3 billion and farmers are trying hard to recover their dues' said Vice Chairman FAP, Hussein Jehanian Gardezi while briefing the newsmen about the proceedings of 117th extraordinary general meeting of the organisation held here on Thursday.
Gardezi said that the meeting urged the government to make the role of the cane commissioner effective for prompt recovery of dues of the growers. During the meeting a member of organisation proposed that it should be made obligatory for the mills to issue Cane Procurement Receipt (CPR) to the growers with a due date like one given on utility bills. He said that the mills should make payment to growers by that due date or give fine also if the payment is made after that due date.
The meeting also noted with concern that the government was yet to dispose off its wheat stocks of last two years as after two months fresh crop will arrive. The FAP members urged the government to immediately make public its wheat procurement plan and its salient features.
The meeting also expressed its concern over rising prices of fertilisers and said that these had registered Rs 400-500 during last two months. It urged the government to take immediate steps for stopping black-marketing of fertilisers and ensure its smooth supply in required quantity.
Gardezi said that the meeting also discussed issue of increase in agriculture tax by the provincial government and demanded that filing of returns should not be introduced in this regard. The meeting observed that it might also open the door of corruption. It proposed that the government should delay introduction of filing system for three years and in the meantime arrange capacity building of farmers in this regard.
Discussing water issues; FAP meeting urged the government to immediately start construction on all the proposed dams including Kalabagh, Bhasha and Akhori. It observed that water and electricity issues could not be resolved without construction of big dams. The meeting also urged the provincial government to start work on proposed project worth Rs 18 billion to promote drip and sprinkle irrigation in the province.
The meeting also rejected imposition of 3.5 percent withholding tax on trade of agricultural produce and observed that ultimately farmers and consumers had to pay the price. FAP had also sent a delegation headed by Farooq Bajwa to discuss this issue with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Gardezi added. Punjab Agriculture Secretary, Arif Nadeem and Member Agriculture Tax, Board of Revenue Punjab Chaudhry M. Safdar also attended the meeting.