Govt to provide agri tools to farmers on subsidised rates

By: Ahmad Ahmadani 

ISLAMABAD - A rare gesture can be termed as right step towards right direction, the PPP-led government in a bid to promote solar tube wells in the country is mulling to provide agricultural tools to the farmers on subsidised rates.

Viewing worsening energy crisis with each passing day coupled with mounting political pressure ahead of general election year on the political arena of the country, ruling coalition government is however now genuinely working on a strategy to promote alternative as well as renewable energy sources including solar in the country in a bid to meet the growing demands of country’s vast agriculture sector. On 12th June, a meeting in collaboration with Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies to promote alternative energy sources is scheduled to be held in the premises of Ministry of Industries (MoI) where a strategy is likely to be evolved regarding the provision of agricultural tools run on solar energy to the farmers on very subsidized rates.

It was also learnt that ahead of general election the government, in a right move to promote solar tube wells for agriculture sector, has decided to provide a great chunk of the subsidy only to secure the sympathies of the over burdened as well as ignored farmers of the country bearing sky-high prices of electric power from a long times to make both ends meet. Following the announcement of proposed tax in federal budget of fiscal year 2012-13 on Peter engines coupled with grand sales tax (GST), the government is now leaving no stone unturned to address the deep concerns of farmers amicably.

Sources were of the view that government should come on forefront in a bid to promote production of solar energy tools including its panels and relevant spare parts at large numbers in the country. The government must allocate great share of subsidy for the agriculture sector or convince the banks for leasing of solar technologies in country though so far they remained reluctant to offer loans in this regard to incumbent government.

Similarly, Advisor to Prime Minister on Industries Muhammad Bisharat Raja on Tuesday visited Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies and held talks with the delegations of farmers seeking relief for the agriculture sector from the federal government. However, he assured them that their concerns and reservations would be brought in the notice of Premier Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and various measures would also be taken to increase agricultural production in the country.

It is worth mentioning here that agriculture of the country had been badly hit due to heavy shortfall of electricity or some other pretext resultantly the target of cotton growing could not achieved.

It was targeted that cotton would be grown up in 64 lakh acres but so far only 40 to 50 lakh acres have been cultivated for cotton crop in the country.

Similarly, rice crop that requires heavy quantity of water will be hit badly due to long hours power load shedding. Further, the national kitty was expected to get Rs25 billion with cotton crop.

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