Rawalpindi (Parliament Times) : Central Secretary Information of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Farmers Wing, Khalid Nawaz Sudhraich said that indifferent attitude of rulers to the havoc being played with the agricultural sector, farmers are shifting their business from agricultural to industrial, services and other sectors.
He said this while talking to reporters at his office here on Wednesday in Rawalpindi. He said that unchecked exploitation of the market along with decreasing profit margins of all crops has left farmers with no option but to change their sources of income. “Farmers Friendly National Agricultural Policy is the dire need of the hour to protect the legitimate rights of farmers who are 65% of the country’s population dependent on agriculture.”, he added.
He said that on the instructions of Imran Khan, PTI has come forward to fulfill its responsibilities to save the country’s agricultural economy from destruction. The PTI’s farmers’ wing is bringing all farmers’ organizations together on one platform without any political or other objectives to amplify their voices.
He said that our agricultural sector is facing a decline in crop production due to climate change, old seed varieties, virus attacks, water shortages, and ineffective pesticides. He mentioned that the most troubling factor is the increasing disinterest on the part of the growers, driven by shrinking profit margins and unchecked market exploitation. “These are ground realities that are constantly being ignored by rulers and policymakers”, Khalid added.
He said that Pakistan’s major crops like wheat, sugarcane, cotton and rice, as well as fruits and vegetables – need better protection through research and development of modern seed varieties. “Over all multiple but easily resolvable problems amounts to damage the agricultural sector very badly but nothing is being done except hollow slogans”, he criticized. He further emphasized that unless authorities step in to regulate the agricultural supply chain and ensure better returns for growers, food security will remain in jeopardy.
He also warned that the farmers will block all major highways and roads by erecting agricultural machinery on and shall stage sit-ins if the government is not paying heeds towards the problems. He added that this protest movement will be decisive and the farmers will not back down without the government approving their legitimate demands.