Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has presented suggestions for achieving the target of 20 million bales of cotton during the season 2016-17. Speaking to the media persons on Sunday, Nawab Shehzad Ali Khan, Chairman, PCGA, said that the agriculture department, researchers and scientists as well as manufacturers of fertilisers, seed breeders and pesticide companies should launch a vigorous awareness campaign in media regarding the cotton crop.
Besides, he also called for organising awareness seminars for growers through field officers for improvement in the cotton crop.
He suggested that the government should announce incentives for good productive farmers. He stressed the need for expanding the cotton sowing area to achieve the target of 20 million cotton bales.
Shehzad said that there was a dire need of implementation of cotton control ordinance and agriculture by laws, besides the implementation of law regarding a ban on installation, transferring and shifting of sugar mills in the cotton belt.
He said that there should be no general sales tax or any other tax on certified seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs and there should be a rebate in electricity tariff, in addition to supply of POL products and pesticides on subsidised rates.
He suggested that the government should ensure the role of the pest warning and quality control department to save the crop from diseases. He asked the government to activate the federal seed certification department to ensure the registration of genuine seed firms. He called for a dynamic role of the cotton research institutes in launching new varieties of cotton seed.
Shehzad suggested establishment of a task force for the implementation of laws, constitution of committees for the inspection of progress made by field officers on monthly basis, restriction on import of cotton lint and yarn.
Expressing his dissatisfaction on the role of the ministry of textiles, Shehzad demanded establishment of a separate ministry to safeguard the interests of growers and ginners.
He said that the government should provide interest-free loans to growers of cotton, as they were facing financial crunch and unable to switch over to other crops.
He further said that the government should provide loan to each ginning unit on low mark-up rate for a period of five years.
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