LAHORE – The Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Mir Israrullah Zehri has said that transparency and just mechanism will be ensured, while complete arrangements have been made to protect rights of small farmers during the wheat procurement drive 2011.
He made these remarks at Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) head office after an official briefing here on Saturday. He said that PASSCO would procure 1.3 million tonnes of wheat from the current harvest in Punjab and Sindh. The government would ensure quick delivery of gunny bags and timely payments to farmers.
Zehri stated that small farmers would be provided complete protection against middlemen exploitation to achieve the true spirit of intervention by the government. He maintained that the country would have a bumper wheat crop, result of untiring efforts of the farming community. He pointed out that the ministry had set up a complaint cell to respond complains of farmers. In addition, a similar complaint cell would be established in the PASSCO headquarters.
The minister said that he would frequently visit procurement centres, once PASSCO starts purchasing wheat in the last week of this month. He said that wheat production of over 24 MT is reported to be achieved this year. Zehri said that “increase in wheat production will have a positive impact on our GDP. Farmers are the real stake holders in agriculture and they would be facilitated to the maximum possible level.”
The federal minister was briefed by PASSCO MD Major General Sohail Shafqat, while all general managers were also present. The MD showed his comprehensive strategy to facilitate the common farmer.
