Prime Minister Imran Khan said that it has been the government’s priority to ensure that small-scale sugarcane farmers were paid in full for their produce by sugar mill owners.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Kissan Portal on Friday, PM Khan said he had long observed farmers line up outside sugar mills, who did not give a fair price to the small farmers.
He added that proper payment had brought the government’s vision full circle as farmers were able to invest in their crops, which eventually resulted in higher sugarcane yield.
The premier elaborated on other measures and stated that research was necessary for agricultural progress. PM Khan said that researching seed development was crucial to a farm’s success.
PM Kham lamented that the University of Agriculture Faisalabad used to be a formidable leader in research but investment in the field had dwindled and almost stopped in recent years. Countries that fostered research produced higher crop yields, he added. He also said that milk supply from cows had to be increased through research.
PM Khan also addressed water issues related to agriculture and said that the ten major dams under construction were much needed in the country and were being made after 50 years. He said that melted glaciers were a major source of water, but its storage has been a longstanding problem. The PM said that cotton crop yield had increased positively as now fields were being provided ample water.
The Kissan Portal has been introduced by the government to assist small-scale farmers in their activities. PM Khan elaborated on the operational procedures of the portal and said that farmers would be able to directly connect with the chief secretary’s office to ensure they were not oppressed in any way. The Prime Minister’s Office said that 123 dashboards were already established at federal and provincial levels as part of the Kissan Portal.
Comments are closed.