Hyderabad:
The Sindh Abadgar Board, a group of farmers, has evaluated that the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25 is the year of worse performance for the agricultural sector in more than two decades. The meeting of a Board in Hyderabad on Sunday, chaired by Mahmood Nawaz Shah, pointed out the reasons behind the depression of the sector and also suggested corrective measures.
Producers noticed that, by one hand, climate change had harmful effects on the sector, while, on the other hand, lower quality fertilizer, seeds and pesticides, as well as a substantial decrease in crops prices negatively affected agriculture. Higher temperatures; The torrential downpours and repeated cycles of drought, which also imply complex and serious attacks of pests and diseases have arisen as manifestations of global warming, farmers said.
Farmers expressed concern about increasing cultivation costs due to the increase in water use and crop protection needs, while yields continue to decrease. They reported significant falls in the production of key crops such as cotton, wheat, rice and vegetables, criticizing the government for its inaction.
They argued that, although the prices of the basic products have fallen, it has reached the cost of the income of the farmers, which are vital to maintain the sector. They emphasized that the decrease in cut -up rates should have been matched by reduced entry costs, which did not happen.
Farmers condemned the lack of government support, citing insufficient access to agricultural credit, the sale without control of adulterated pesticides and low quality seeds, and weak extension services.
