Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Association (PASA) President Jamshed Iqbal Cheema has said that lack of awareness about balance used of fertilisers, certified seed and efficient use of water are the most important factors hitting farm income of growers. In addition, better farm management practices are other important ingredient besides aforementioned factors to enhance per acre yield as well as income of the growers. Nevertheless, he regretted that not a single professional farm manager is available in the country. Speaking to a select group of journalists here on Wednesday, Cheema underscored that establishment of food processing industries was necessary to ensure good return to growers of their hard labour and maintaining price equilibrium in the market. He pointed out that when the country would have food processing facilities and cold storage chains, it would remove uncertainty from markets and discourage upward price spiral in case of shortage or bumper crops. PASA president indicated that most post-harvest losses were result of the absence of cold storage facilities and processing industry. He criticised the policies of the present government both at federal and provincial levels towards agricultural sector and said that all policies were political motivated and not aimed at protecting interests of the growers and farmers.
