Kino growers’ miseries

Pakistan has been gifted with such fertile land that almost every kind of crop and fruits can be produced here. Sargodha has been awarded with the special gift of Kino, a kind of orange. The annual production of kino in the area is about 2.5 million tons which fulfils 80 percent need of the country. There are 23 private kino factories which are serving the country in one or the other way. Kinos are being exported to regional countries including UAE, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia. In this way, it is contributing to increasing national GDP.

Regrettably, this precious fruit is being neglected by government as there is not a single public kino factory in the area. Our government has done nothing in this field. No effective planning and policies have been drafted by the government so as to keep prices balanced in different parts of the district. So due to the monopoly of private factories, kinos are being purchased at lower price.

On the other hand, the government has imposed an unfair and unjustified tax only on kino gardens exempting other crops, instead of providing subsidies on fertilisers to promote its production. Furthermore, kinos are being irrigated by tube-wells containing bad quality of water which has not only damaged fruits but also a big part of the land has been devastated owing to which many farmers have switched to other crops.

Being a citizen of Sargodha, it is my duty to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the miseries of kino producers. The government should immediately remove tax on kino baghs and ensure subsidies on fertilisers for kino producers. Modern research centres need to be constructed to make the quality of fruit better which fulfils the requirements of European countries. Contracts should be made with European countries for the export of kino. Thus implementation of such measures is likely to prove helpful in minimising the miseries of kino growers.

HAFIZ ABU BAKAR

Sargodha