ISLAMABAD: Federal government has issued instructions to provinces for speedy resolution of issues which farmers are facing, especially sugarcane growers whose dues are still outstanding.
The farmers are still owed payments by sugar mill owners and the provincial authorities, reported an English daily.
The Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was informed by Minister for National Food Security Syed Ali Shah Sherazi, that authorities and millers in Sindh were not paying notified rates fixed by the government for cane growers.
The PM stated though the problem faced by sugarcane growers fell in domain of provincial government, but the federal government and cabinet have raised serious reservations over this problem.
PM Abbasi stated provinces should meet their responsibilities and ensure timely payment and procurements of crops from farmers as per the stated rates.
Sugarcane grower’s problems are aplenty including environmental damage by mills which are dumping toxic pollutants into the Arabian Sea and rivers.
In a federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the issue of cane growers was deliberated and discussed after which the provincial govts were ordered to meet their responsibility towards farmers and ensure timely payments at proscribed rates by the millers on an immediate basis.
