ISLAMABAD (Media Reports) – New legislation should be enacted to defend farmers' rights, according to Prime Minister Imran Khan, and engagement with all stakeholders should be ensured.
Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over a meeting to promote agriculture in Pakistan, particularly the cotton crop. Federal Ministers Shaukat Tarin and Syed Fakhr Imam, Trade Adviser Abdul Razzaq Dawood, Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Hussain Jahanian, and other top officials attended the meeting.
The council also approved the formation of an inter-ministerial group to speed up the manufacturing of high-quality cotton seeds and the holding of a national cotton conference.
The meeting also approved the establishment of the Pakistan Cotton Authority in principle, which will conduct research to boost the supply, monitoring, and manufacture of high-quality seeds. Cotton growers' rights were also protected by new legislation.
The committee was informed that the country now has a wheat stock of 4.17 million tonnes. The federal and provincial governments are collaborating to provide a Rs 15.5 billion fertiliser subsidy.
A Farmers Forum has been established under the presidency of the Federal Minister for Food Security, as per the prime minister's instructions. The objective of this forum is to guarantee that farmers are represented in policy concerns and that their issues are resolved quickly.
Imran Khan also gave his approval for a National Cotton Conference to be held. On this occasion, the prime minister authorised the Ministry of Industry to conduct a feasibility assessment for the establishment of factories in the country to produce DAP fertiliser locally.
Imran Khan stated at the time that contemporary technology was required to boost the yield per acre. Farmers receive government subsidies for new agricultural instruments, high-quality seeds, and fertilisers. The farmer should receive the true benefit of the subsidy via a farmer card. New legislation should be enacted to preserve farmers' rights, and all stakeholders should be consulted.