Akhtar Shaheen Rind
KARACHI: In a notable meeting held at Bilawal House, the Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, engaged in a discussion with the former Sindh Agriculture Minister, Manzoor Wasan, to delve into the recent developments within the agricultural sector.
This tête-à-tête provided an opportunity for Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to gain insights into the accomplishments and strategies of Manzoor Wasan during his two-year tenure as the Minister of Agriculture.
An integral component of the briefing centered around the significant augmentation of the support price for wheat across the Sindh province. The support price witnessed a substantial rise, soaring from 1800 to an impressive 4000 rupees per tonne. Manzoor Wasan attributed this policy shift to his efforts, highlighting how this increase contributed to a remarkable upsurge in wheat production.
The wheat yield escalated from 29 million tons to an impressive 39 million tons as a result of this new support price implementation.
Further details presented during the briefing revealed that similar increases in support prices had led to a commendable expansion in sugarcane production.
The support price of sugarcane had been elevated from Rs 202 to Rs 425 per ton. Manzoor Wasan also shared information about the financial aid extended to small farmers whose agricultural land, up to 25 acres, had been adversely affected by floods. These farmers were granted five thousand rupees per acre to alleviate the impact of the natural disaster.
Manzoor Wasan’s briefing also shed light on the proactive measures taken by the Sindh government to empower small farmers. Under this initiative, farmers with up to twelve and a half acres of land were provided sixty thousand rupees worth of fertilizer and seeds to bolster their agricultural activities.
Moreover, the briefing highlighted the provision of subsidized agricultural machinery to farmers, a move aimed at enhancing agricultural practices and productivity.
In a show of unity, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was joined by former minister son, Barrister Halar Wasan, during the meeting.
This collective engagement emphasized the Bhutto Zardari family’s commitment to supporting and fostering key agricultural initiatives within Sindh.
