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ADP for farm sector up by 29pc in Sindh
By Muzaffar Qureshi
The ambitious development plans have not been able to divert growers’ attention from the shortage of water and fertilisers which has threatened cotton and sugarcane crops for the season. - File photo
KARACHI: The Annual Development Plan (ADP) allocation for the agriculture sector for 2009-10 in Sindh is 29 per cent higher compared to last year with a view to boost agriculture, which contributed significantly to the last year’s GDP.
Sources said that the new ADP for agriculture is Rs2,955.25 million against Rs2,292.5 million allocated last year. They said that major allocation of Rs1,169.95 million has been made for six schemes for farm research, Rs1,149 million for three schemes in farm mechanisation, Rs439.9 million for three schemes in water management and Rs184 million for agriculture extension.
The major schemes, which are likely to develop agriculture in a big way include survey, mapping and sampling of soils and reclamation (Rs400 million); development and preparation of quality seeds under public private partnership (Rs469.9 million); promotion of cut flowers in Sindh through universities (Rs100m); provision of 3,000 tractors to farmers (Rs808m); Tunnel green house cultivation (Rs100m); and installation of wind mills, solar pumping for irrigation water and land reclamation from water-logging and salinity (Rs200m).
Meanwhile, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has said that ambitious schemes are drawn every year through ADP but their implementation is never ensured.
Anwer Bachani of the Chamber told Dawn on Thursday that most of the ADP schemes this year were of superfluous nature whose results could not be seen on the ground.Commenting on a few schemes he said that the chamber has always demanded that distribution of tractors be made through transparent balloting to eliminate chances of corruption.
He said most of the tractors were shared by big landlords and the ordinary farmer is ignored.Similarly, tunnel green house cultivation is mainly meant for areas affected by harsh winter conditions whereas in Sindh winter is moderate, he added.
Mr Bachani complained that growers’ representatives were never taken into confidence while drawing ADP schemes.Shortage of water and fertilisers has threatened cotton and sugarcane crops.
Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has welcomed President Zardari’s move to release more water for Sindh from Taunsa Barrage but said that crops need immediate water and growers were praying for early monsoon rains. The water released from Taunsa would reach Sindh in 15 days.
Shortage of urea is also affecting growth of crops as Sindh has received only 217,000 tons of urea out of its quota of 700,000 tons for the current season which lasts from April to September.According to the data provided by the ministry, the province will get 41000 tons of urea in June followed by 69,000 tons in July.
However, it admitted that only 18,000 tons of urea was supplied in April and about May supplies it has no details which created an acute shortage of urea setting its price to Rs9,000 per bag against the controlled rate of Rs750
DAWN: Saturday, 27 Jun, 2009
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