Official terms ‘mafia’ enemies of agribusiness development

Divisional Commissioner Momin Agha directed the officers concerned to continue an organised and vigorous crackdown against the sale and produce of fake and spurious fertilisers and pesticides in the four districts of Faisalabad division to curb the enemies of agriculture development. He was presiding over a meeting of Divisional Agriculture Advisory Committee.

The meeting was attended by EDOs Agriculture, Director Livestock Dr Munir Shami, DOs Agriculture, ACG Mahr Shafqat Ullah Mushtaq, representatives of co-operative, fisheries, commercial banks, irrigation, forest, pesticides and fertilisers companies, sugar mills and farmers. The Divisional Commissioner emphasised upon effective pursuance of the cases in the courts against the accused spurious fertilisers and pesticides so that such elements could be brought to their end. He directed the EDOs Agriculture to provide the details of the cases against the adulterated mafia and said that proper analysis should be carried out to access the departmental progress regarding actions against those involved in sale and produce spurious fertilisers. He said that Punjab government was very much committed to provide the pure and quality fertilisers to the farmers for the progress of the agriculture and no hindrance would be tolerated in this regard.

Commissioner also reviewing the current situation of the present crops, availability of irrigation water and electricity, progress of development projects of agriculture sector. He stressed upon holding farmers forum for discussion and solved the issues and problems being faced by cultivators. The Divisional Commissioner said huge subsidy was being provided under the CM Punjab Kissan Package for reducing the cost of production of crops under which interest-free loans of Rs 80 billions were being advanced to the small farmers besides decreasing the per unit electricity rate from Rs 8 to 5 on tube-well connections.

He said to the agriculture officers to achieve targets of agriculture sector development by providing its benefit to every farmer. He said that for promoting the Kitchen gardening project it would be introduced at schools level also. EDO Agriculture Faisalabad Chaudhry Abdul Hameed informed the meeting about the welfare steps being taken by the agriculture department for the prosperity and development of the farmers. He informed about availability situation of fertilisers and their reduced prices and training of the farmers.

He highlighted the salient features of the CM Punjab Kissan Package. The EDO told to resolve out the issued and problems of the farmers’ complaint cell was also functional at EDO office. During the advisory meeting farmers presented suggestions and appreciated the historical Kissan Package of CM Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.