SWABI: Industrialists belonging to different parts of the country have started procurement of maize grain from local farmers at low prices through their agents here in the district.
Interaction with local farmers revealed that though they had been growing maize crop for the last several decades, but they were unaware of its real value and use in industrial sector to prepare different kinds of food ingredients.
Zar Mohammad, an old farmer of Naro Kallay, said that he knew only how to cultivate maize and use or sell the grain, but knew nothing more than that.
Maize grain is used in different eatable commodities, especially corn oil which is widely used by consumers across country. The corn starch, which is common food ingredient, is also prepared from maize. The grain is also used by industrial sector in preparation of different varieties of food.
When contacted, an industrialist said that corn refining process created various food and industrial starches, sweeteners, oil and bio-products. Maize has the lowest price in the food market among all grains, while entrepreneurs are earning millions from the same crop at the cost of poor growers.
Soon after the harvest, the industrialists have started procurement process through their agents in the district. One of the traders said that the market rate of maize grain was Rs1,300 per 50 kilogrammes.
SHOP LOOTED: Unidentified thieves looted a big electronics shop located on Swabi-Jahangira road and deprived the owner of Rs1 million worth of electrical appliances and cash. The incident occurred in city police station limits late on Wednesday night.
Mohammad Waqas, owner of the shop, said that thieves cut the locks and took away Rs0.5 million cash, refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners and various other electrical appliances.
CONGREGATION: A three-day congregation of Jamiat Ishaat Tauheed Wa Sunnah started at Panjpir here on Friday.
On this occasion, Maulana Mohammad Tayyab said that followers of Jamiat from all over the country would listen to various religious scholars during their stay. “Thousands of people from different parts of the country participate in the gathering every year,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2018
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