The Punjab chief minister has claimed that the uplift of farmers, protection of their interests and development of the agriculture sector is his government's priority and that interests of cultivators will be safeguarded at any cost. Shahbaz Sharif's claim came in a speech to a high-level meeting through video conference at the Civil Secretariat from London on Monday which also outlined a string of proposals to develop agriculture and solve cultivators' problems.
The meeting also decided to launch a campaign against manufacturers and traders of spurious pesticides and fertilisers and hold a Kissan Conference in the Punjab at the end of September. He said, "Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and there is a need to take short, medium and long term measures for the development of this sector. Farmers should directly benefit from development of this sector and there is also a need to let the cultivators know of the results of modern agri-research. The Agriculture Department will have to serve and help the cultivators." He went on, "There is a need for introducing changes of basic nature for the uplift of the agriculture and livestock sectors while the Extension Wing of Agriculture Department will also have to play an effective role. The heinous trade of spurious pesticides will have to be checked."
He then told concerned authorities to initiate stern action against the sugar mills not making timely payments to the cultivators and payments to the sugarcane growers should be ensured till September 10. He said due returns to the farmers for their labour would be ensured and no one would be allowed to usurp their right.
He also praised a proposal for setting up an agriculture commission in the Punjab, saying besides the authorities of Punjab government representatives of farmers, agri experts and all stakeholders should be included in the commission. He said such persons should be the members of this commission as are capable of resolving the problems of agriculture sector and providing guidance for the development of agriculture sector in the real sense. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Yawar Zaman, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Special Assistant Livestock Arshad Jutt, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, concerned secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting from Civil Secretariat while Chief Executive Officer MEPCO participated in the meeting through video link from Multan.