Islamabad: Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan told the National Assembly Wednesday that the government will adopt a mechanism to reduce the prices of fertilizers within fifteen days to facilitate the farmers.
He was responding to a calling attention notice moved by Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan and others regarding increase in the prices of fertilizers, pesticides, and non-payment of reasonable prices to the farmers of their agricultural products and non-purchase thereof well in time.
He said the government is also making efforts to reduce the cost of production of agricultural products. For this purpose, he said 20 billion rupees subsidy has been announced in the budget on fertilizers. He said GST on pesticides has been lowered and duty on import of machinery has also been reduced.
The Minister admitted the fact that the agriculture community is facing problems. He said the prices of agricultural products are at low internationally. He said Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in a report also said that during the next two years the prices of these commodities will remain low because of unbalanced demand and supply position.
