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LAHORE
- Pakistan Basmati Heritage Association (PBHA) in collaboration of
the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) recently arranged an awareness seminar
named ‘Khuhaal Kissan’ for the promotion and preservation of basmati rice heritage
of the country. Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial
speaking on this occasion appreciated the efforts of PBHA and assured that the
government will continue its efforts for the improvement of rice sector and
welfare of the farmers. Throwing light on various steps being taken by the
Punjab government for the development of the agricultue sector, the Minister
said that the rice is not only needed for our food requirement but it also
helps the country to fetch foreign exchange through exports. He further said
that various schemes have been introduced for bringing down the cost of
production and increasing profit of the growers.
Pakistan
Agriculture Coalition CEO Arif Nadeem addressing the farmers, spoke about farm
mechanization through service provider model in Sindh and roadmap for taking
rice exports from $2B to $5B. Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Marketing &
Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) Naveed Anwar Bhindar also shared the benefits and
future impact of PAMRA. Hundreds of rice farmers and key members of PBHA
participated in the seminar. While moderating the Seminar, National Coordinator
PBHA Imran Sheikh deliberated the challenges of rice sector especially basmati
rice in Punjab. Convener PBHA Shahid Hussain Tarar shared the mission &
objectives of PBHA and agreed action plan for promotion and preservation of Basmati
rice in production and export. He further advised the farmers to adopt global
rice
standard of Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) of
UNE & IRRI for promoting resource efficiency and sustainability by ensuring
food safety.
Pakistan
Basmati Heritage Association (PBHA) in collaboration of the Punjab Agriculture
Department (PAD) recently arranged an awareness seminar "Khushal
Kissan" for promotion and preservation of basmati rice heritage of the
country.
Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial speaking on this
occasion appreciated the efforts of PBHA and assured that the government will
continue its efforts for the improvement of rice sector and welfare of the
farmers.
Throwing light on various steps being taken by the government for the
development of the agricultural sector, the minister said that the rice is not
only needed for our food requirement but also help the country to fetch
precious foreign exchange through exports.
He said that various schemes have been introduced for bringing down the cost of
production and increasing profit of the growers.
Arif Nadeem CEO Pakistan Agriculture Coalition addressing the farmers spoke
about farm mechanization through service provider model in Sindh and roadmap for
taking rice exports from $2B-$5B. Naveed Anwar Bhindar Chairman Pakistan
Agriculture Marketing & Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) shared the benefits
and future impact of PAMRA.
Hundreds of rice farmers and key members of PBHA participated in the seminar. While
moderating the Seminar Imran Sheikh National Coordinator PBHA deliberated the
challenges of rice sector especially basmati rice in Punjab.
Shahid Hussain Tarer, Convener PBHA shared the mission & objectives of
Pakistan Basmati Heritage Association (PBHA) and agreed action plan for
promotion and preservation of basmati rice in production and export. He advised
the farmers to adopt global rice standard of Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) of
UNE & IRRI for promoting resource efficiency and sustainability by ensuring
food safety.
Dr Abid Mahmood, DG Research advised the farmers to use certified seed because
it will serve as foundation for increasing yield and quality of basmati rice.
Dr Anjum Ali Buttar DG Agri Extension shared Prime Minister's agriculture
emergency program and appreciated the initiative of PBHA for providing healthy
and certified seed on subsidized rate to the farmers.
Rana Nazir Ahmed, former MNA and progressive farmer shared his experience on
mechanical rice transplanting and direct seeding of rice.
He advised the farmers to adopt farm mechanization for improving their yield
and reducing cost of production.
Shehla Raza, MPA Gujranwala also shared her experience and thoughts for
betterment of rice sector.
Professor Dr Ahfaq Ahmad Chattha University of Agri Faisalabad highlighted the
impact of climate change on basmati rice and advised the farmers to adjust date
of sowing for adapting climate change scenario. Dr Afzal, Country Director
CropLife advised the farmers for responsible use of pesticides and its
importance for boosting rice export of Pakistan.
Currency devaluation helps those countries which have a
large industrial base or have a substantial export-based economy, where the
high valuation of local currency makes them less competitive. Devaluation in
such cases makes their products and prices more competitive in the
international marketplace.
The devaluation of
approximately 32% of the Pakistani Rupee has had no impact on the growth of
exports in dollars. Stagnant export statistics are a case in point. The rise in
energy prices due to devaluation has increased prices across the board. The
increase in foreign debt, in rupees, and its servicing has been the same as
devaluation, putting additional pressures on the economy and the government’s
budget-making, taking out a major chunk from the 2019-20 budget, leaving very
little for development funding.
The main reason for the
lack of growth in exports is the decline in industrial base and conversion of
the economy to a consumer-based import economy. In the 1960s, Pakistan probably
had a larger industrial base as a ratio to GDP than today. Over the last 30
years, balance of payments deficit has been filled mostly by remittances from
hardworking overseas Pakistanis and through foreign loans. The import/export
gap of nearly $40 billion in its last year alone consumed almost the entire
foreign exchange reserves. Even the foreign loans could not help better the
economic situation.
Devaluation has also hit
Pakistan’s automobile industry. Plants are shutting down temporarily as slow
sales are leaving vehicles unsold. The automobile industry, with nearly three
million direct and indirect jobs in the country, has been one of the largest
job creators, tax contributor to the exchequer and a major contributor to the
country’s economy. So much so that one of the largest automobile producers in
the world is considering making Pakistan a production hub for exports to the
Middle East and Central Asia. But devaluation and its knock-on effect on import
duties, sales tax, etc. is killing the automobile industry. If immediate steps
are not taken to address this situation, a substantial number of jobs could be
lost. While the government should immediately reduce import duties and sales
taxes on CKD imports to save the auto industry before job losses incur and
industry profits disappear. A delay in taking action could cost the country
dearly.
At this point, Pakistan has
little room to wiggle for rupee revaluation to reduce the cost of living for
the common man. An urgent plan is needed to increase industrial production in
the next two years to give a major boost to export. Once exports rise
significantly, even the IMF will be more flexible on rupee valuation.
A rapid development of
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC is probably the answer. Major
investment from China and other countries in SEZs could lift Pakistan exports
rapidly, provided the industries set up are not for import into Pakistan but
are substantially export based.
China imports hundreds of
billions of dollars’ worth of food items each year. Pakistan has a surplus in
wheat, rice, sugar, fruits and other agricultural products which can be readily
exported to China. But this will require standardising, grading and proper
packing of food and fruits. The quick implementation of agreements already in
place with China to help boost agricultural output would help increase food and
fruit exports rapidly. Expansion and increase in industrial output of current
industrial base, rapid development, the up and running of SEZs and a
significant increase in agricultural output will help Pakistan double or triple
exports over the next few years.
It is a fallacy that
devaluation will help increase exports without a corresponding increase in
industrial and agricultural output. Instead of devaluation, Pakistan needs to
increase its exports exponentially and eliminate the trade deficit leaving the
remittances to be utilised for the repayment of foreign loans.
Published in The Express
Tribune, July 17th, 2019.
Deputy Commissioner Salwat
Saeed has said that provision of edibles on the government fixed rates was a
responsibility of the state and the local administration, adding that no one
would be allowed to sell edibles at their own rates
SARGODHA,
(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 16th Jul, 2019 ) :Deputy Commissioner
Salwat Saeed has said that provision of edibles on the government fixed
rates was a responsibility of the state and the local administration, adding
that no one would be allowed to sell edibles at their own rates.
Chairing
a meeting of the district price control
committee here, she said that no check and balance was maintained on the
wholesale dealers in the past. The market rates
would be decided by the government now
so that relief could be provided to people, she added.
She said
that the administration would ensure that price lists are
issued in urdu and English languages. The shopkeepers would be bound
to display these lists on prominent points at their shops.
The DC,
taking notice of sale of
chemical mixed milk in markets, directed
the officials concerned to take action in this regard.
According
to the government fixed
rates, the prices of
per kilogramme Basmati rice has been decided Rs 133, Basmati Rice-386 Rs 68,
Daal Channa Rs 103 and 96, Daal Moong 106 and 93, Daal Maash (washed) Rs 148,
Daal Moong (washed) Rs 148 per kg.
The price of Mutton
fixed at Rs 700 per kg, meat Rs 350 per kg, Baisan Rs 103 per kg, Tandoori Roti
100-gram Rs 7 and simple Naan (100-gram) Rs 9.
The price of White
Channa (local) Rs 102 per kg, Milk Rs 70 per litre, yogurt Rs 80 per kg, red
chilli Rs 330 kg and Masoor Rs 82 per kg.
She
directed the price control
magistrates to ensure implementation of the prices and weight of Roti
and Naan and also take action against those violating the instructions.
BUTUAN CITY,
July 17 -- Agricultural modernization is one of the key interventions of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) to support the farmers and make them more
competitive in an open rice market.
The DA-Caraga
through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) turned over the 110
units of mechanical rice transplanters to 110 eligible farmer associations and
cooperatives from the different provinces in the region with a total worth of
₱30.4 million last July 12 at the DA-Integrated Laboratories Compound, Brgy.
Taguibo, Butuan City.
RCEF is a
safeguard mechanism of the Rice Liberalization Law wherein ₱10 Billion annual
appropriations for the next six years, will be allocated to rice farm machinery
and equipment, rice seed development, propagation, and promotion and expanded
rice credit.
Just in time
for the year's first cropping season, DA responds to the call of the rice
farmers to make their farming more productive and less laborious by granting
them with modern farm facilities. Mechanizing rice farms maximizes land and
labor productivity thereby increasing the economic returns to rice farmers.
"DA is
distributing first the mechanical rice transplanters so that our farmers will
now take charge of their planting schedule and not be dependent on seasonal
labors," said DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations
Alberto D. Ocampo, Jr.
"Aside
from it, we wanted to reduce their workload through the use of the machine.
This intervention is for free for eligible farmer groups. Mechanizing our rice
farms in the region is our way to reduce their production cost at the same time
increase their yield," he added.
According to
the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech),
the average cost of production of rice in the country is ₱12.00 per kilogram.
With this, DA and its partner agencies aim to bring it down to ₱8 per kilogram
through agricultural modernization.
"The labor
cost during planting season is becoming more expensive it costs us
₱6,000-₱7,000 excluding the pulling of seedlings, aside from the planting
contract, laborers also demand free meals," said Felisa C. Hambala,
Chairperson, Bayugan 3 Irrigators Association one of the recipients from
Rosario, Agusan del Sur.
"We are
very thankful to the government that they give attention to our needs because
through their assistance labor cost in our farming will reduce," added
Hambala.
The PhilMech
study revealed with the use of the machine, it can give a yield of 4.71MT/ha
compared to the 4.24MT/ha using the direct seeding method and 3.90MT/ha for
manual transplanting.
"We are
encouraging our farmers to make use of the interventions that they receive from
the DA. The recipients should ensure the safety of the equipment while in
their custody and optimize its utilization," said RTD Ocampo.
Necessary
operations and management training were also conducted to the beneficiaries to
ensure proper and efficient use of the equipment which also includes seedling
preparation.
Ultimately, it
is the Department's commitment to transform Caraga farmers to become more
productive and competitive through strengthened access and use of efficient
mechanized rice farming technologies. (Rhea Abao, DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
As
rice prices plunge, farmers in the Philippines are asking President Rodrigo
Duterte to review a 5-month-old law that paved the way for unlimited imports of
the staple grain, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said.
Rice
prices at the farm gate dropped to 12-14 pesos ($0.24-$0.27) a kilo from 20
pesos earlier this year, Pinol said on his Facebook account. That would result
in an annual loss of about 114 billion pesos ($2.24 billion) for Filipino rice
farmers, he said.
The law,
signed in February, removed caps on rice imports and boosted supply of the
stable grain. The measure was intended to help cool inflation, which in 2018
accelerated to the fastest pace in nine years and triggered one of the most
aggressive monetary tightening responses in Asia.
Rough-rice
output in the second quarter probably fell 5.6% from a year ago to 3.86 million
metric tons, the statistics agency said in a report.
