KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the Agriculture department to take necessary measures to start forthcoming crushing season from October 10 and start holding meetings with growers and sugar millers to forge consensus for fixing the cane price.
The decision was taken by the Chief Minister here Wednesday while presiding over a meeting of Agriculture department in which he was given presentation on Annual Development Programme (ADP) and World Bank project of agriculture department.
The Secretary Agriculture briefing the chief minister said that last year sugarcane cultivation target was fixed over an area of 316,749 hectares while this year it is 313,437 hectares which has been achieved. "The production of the sugarcane would be around 17,500,000 tons and its yield would come 600 tones," he said.
The chief minister directed Secretary Agriculture to coordinate with the millers and ensure sugarcane crushing from October 10. "This must be addressed by taking administrative measures," he said and added that the other issue is the fixation of the price.
He directed to start consultative meetings with growers and millers to fix a mutually agreed sugarcane price. "I am sure that this year there would be no hue and cry on the crushing and price issue," he said.
The Secretary agriculture briefing the meeting about Rs 6,236.778 million World Bank- assisted Agriculture Growth Project said that it has been launched and would complete on June 30, 2019. "Out of the total cost of the project Rs1210.975 million are for date crops, Rs140.775 million for onion, Rs1812.250 million for chili and Rs15.5 million for paddy crops," he said.
He said the objective of the project is to improve the productivity and market access of small and medium producers in important commodity value chain such as reduction in post harvest loses in dates, chilies and onions crops.
The project also includes the capacity building of researcher, extension workers, producers and farmers. It is also an important component of the project to improve quality of produce to make it more competitive in local and international market.
The chief minister also took serious notice of some complaints about marketing of that uncertified seeds. "I would never tolerate this kind of negligence. It is your duty to ensure availability of certified seed in the market," he directed the agriculture department.
The Secretary told the meeting that an Agriculture Advisory Centre was being established at Tando Jam.
In presentation on another Rs 30,139.75 million World Bank assisted Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project (SIAPEP), it was stated that the project aimed at improving agriculture productivity among small and medium size farmers.
"We would line 5,500 watercourses in which World Bank funding would be 76 percent while the farmers would have to bear 24 percent cost. The lining of 5,500 watercourses would cost Rs 9,228 million," he said and added that Rs 922.7 million have been earmarked for providing 1100 lasers for land leveling and deep ripping, Rs 1203.34 million for improved agriculture production technologies.
The chief minister directed Chief Secretary to issue necessary instruction to stop water rotation all over the province. "When water is available why the Irrigation department has started water rotation system.
The meeting decided to monitor the completion of world bank projects with dedication and honesty. He assigned the task to ACS (Development) Aijaz Ali Khan to monitor the project for its efficient completion.
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