Senate Committee expresses disappointment over non-implementation of minimum sugarcane supports price by the provincial governments

ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research here on Wednesday expressed its serious concerns and disappointment over the non-implementation of minimum support prices of sugarcane crop, which was notified by the respective provincial governments for the sugarcane growers during current season.

The committee met here with Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair also noted that the minimum support price for the sugarcane crop lay down by the Sindh High Court at Rs 160 per 40 kg was also not implemented by the provincial government of Sindh.

The meeting observed that although it was a provincial subject after the 18th constitutional amendment but the federal government should play its role to protect the farmers rights and agriculture development in the country.

The committee anticipated that in view of prevailing situation the cultivation of sugarcane would be badly effected and growers would shift their crop to other crop, which would created seriously sugar crisis in the country to fulfill its domestic requirements.

The committee recommended the federal and provincial governments for evolving a proper mechanism in order to provide fair prices to the farmers for their produces and protect their rights and saving them form the exploitation.

The meeting also asked the provincial governments to ensure minimum support price of sugarcane crop through their sugarcane commissioners.

The committee asked for formulating a proper crop policy and planning in order to avoid such situation as well as making the agriculture sector more profitable and producing resources efficient crops to fulfill the domestic requirements as well as for exporting.

Meanwhile, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan informed the committee that the matter was also taken up in the meeting of the Council of Common Interest, where the provincial governments were directed to ensure implementation  of minimum support price of sugarcane crops during the crushing season.

The minister apprised the meeting that the Federal Cabinet has approved to give administrative control of Pakistan Central Committee to Ministry of National Food Security and Research, which could help to enhance the cotton crop output in the country.

Senators, Mohisn Khan Leghari, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan Dhandla and Senator Hamza attended the meeting.