Provincial Minister for Agriculture Sindh, Sardar Muhammad Bukhsh Khan Mahar in a media briefing stated that the province has incurred a significant loss of Rs. 4 billion in the cotton crop due to recent rains.
Addressing the media, the minister assured that just as the losses faced by farmers due to rains in 2022 were compensated, a similar plan is being devised to support affected farmers this time as well.
The minister emphasized the challenges farmers are facing concerning fertilizer supply and revealed that he has conducted meetings with fertilizer companies to ensure a steady supply to the farmers. He outlined a comprehensive plan to tackle issues such as fertilizer hoarding, black marketing, and smuggling, which have been plaguing the agricultural sector.
To effectively implement these measures, the minister stressed the importance of coordination between the district administration, the agriculture department, and fertilizer companies.
He also announced that powers have been delegated to inspectors of the Agriculture Department to take decisive action against dealers involved in the production of fake fertilizers and those causing price fluctuations. Additionally, steps will be taken against manufacturers of counterfeit pesticides to protect the interests of farmers and stabilize the agricultural market.
