Farmers will be empowered through fertilizer subsidy. We have to strengthen the agricultural base in the country. The federation and the provinces will agree on a mechanism to provide each subsidy. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security, Syed Fakhar Imam while chairing the meeting on Agricultural Fiscal Package with Provincial Agriculture Secretaries on Thursday. The mode of implementation of the package was also discussed with provinces. Federal Minister added that There are 8.2 million farmers in the country. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to revive the agricultural sector. We want to give this financial package with transparency. In the past, transparency was not taken care of in this regard. During the meeting, the Federal Minister praised Balochistan for growing organic cotton on 15000 acres, which resulted in 22 bales per acre.
Syed Fakhr Imam said that the future belongs to organic agriculture. He added that our priority should be long term research and increasing the production of 5 major crops. Economic Consultant, Dr.Talpur briefed about a multi-billion agriculture package which was approved for farmers by cabinet on 19th May. As per the fiscal package there is a subsidy on fertilizers, cotton seed and white fly pesticides; reduced bank markup on agricultural loans, in addition to sales tax subsidy on locally manufactured tractors. Under the agriculture package, subsidy to the tune of approximately Rs. 37 billion is offered to farmers on the purchase of fertilizers. Similarly, under the agriculture package, diminution in markup of agriculture loans to farmers at the total cost of Rs. 8.8 billion and subsidy on cotton seed at a cost of Rs. 2.3 billion and white fly pesticides at Rs. 6 billion were approved. The package would also include Rs. 2.5 billion subsidy on sales tax on the locally-manufactured tractors for a period of one year. All banks, along with ZTBL, in the scheme will enhance the outreach of farmers with focus on subsistence farmers with a land holding of 12.5 acres. Federal Minister also called Provincial Secretaries for the implementation mechanism, to be monitored carefully to ensure that the actual beneficiaries of package were genuine farmers.
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