‘Businessmen should support agriculture sector’

LAHORE – The Senior Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that business organisations, associated with agriculture sector, should extend practical cooperation in order to play an effective role for increasing agriculture production and achieving self-sufficiency. He said that prices of fertiliser, seed and agri-equipment have increased due to imposition of sales tax on agriculture products, which will dampen agriculture production. The Punjab government fully supports farmers’ demand for immediate withdrawal of sales tax on agriculture products in order to encourage agriculture.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Cultivation of Cotton”, held under the aegis of Sun Crop Group Managing Director Dr Rafique Pitafi. Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will plan promotion of agriculture on scientific lines in order to attain a place in the international market. He said that the Punjab government will also enhance its coordination with international companies for promotion of latest technology in agriculture and enhancing production of cotton.
He stated that it is a good omen that Pakistani scientists have made a marvelous achievement by introducing BT cotton seed. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has also given approval to its cultivation. He maintained that the government will welcome use of foreign technology in agriculture sector and negotiations with various international organisations are in-process. In addition, the government will also provide payback guarantee, while the provincial government will also make legislation in this regard so that research and high quality seed could be improved in collaboration with international organisations.
Addressing the seminar, Dr Rafique Pitafi said that agriculture production cannot be increased without awareness of modern technology among farmers and added that his organisation is also providing technical advisory services to farmers. He further stated that farmers are informed about the use of fertiliser, pesticides and modern methods of agriculture in training workshops, which resulted in increasing the trend of using modern methods in agriculture.