HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Agriculture Mohammad Ismail Rahu inaugurated a one-day ‘farmers market’ at Expo Centre here on Sunday and expressed the hope that people would get great relief from inflation and price hike by having an opportunity to buy vegetables, fruits and many other agricultural commodities directly from farmers at low prices.

Hyderabad Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Abro, Agriculture Secretary Abdul Raheem Soomro and senior officials of the department, as well as a large number of farmers and traders attended the inauguration ceremony.

Speaking to the audience and later local reporters, Mr Rahu said it was for the first time that such an event had been held in any part of Sindh.

Appreciating the idea of holding such an event, the minister said it was beneficial for both farmers and consumers. He noted that farmers would get a reasonable price of their produce because the trading at the market had eliminated the role of middleman, who would otherwise claim their share in every small and big deal. Likewise, he added, buyers would also get commodities at a price much lower than what was being offered at regular markets.

Agriculture minister pleased to see people buying commodities directly from farmers at low prices

Dozens of stalls displaying vegetables, fruits, groceries and many other items of daily use were set up at the farmers market. A large number of people thronged the market in the morning and the brisk activity continued till the closing time.

Mr Rahu went round many stalls to check prices and expressed his satisfaction over the quality and rates offered to buyers. He observed that the prices offered by stall-holders were much lower than those offered at utility stores and regular markets. He expressed his pleasure over consumers’ satisfaction witnessed during the trading, and said the common man appeared happy because high inflation rate and price hike that prevailed across the country these days had devastated the low-income group.

He pointed out that people, especially salaried class, were already under immense financial burden due to an unprecedented increase in petroleum prices and gas and electricity tariffs.

In reply to a question, Mr Rahu said that development and administrative works for the New Sabzi Mandi in Hyderabad were continuing and would be completed soon. He hoped that the Mandi would be opened very soon.

The minister criticised the federal government led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for failing to control prices of essential commodities and for increasing fuel prices and gas and electricity tariffs beyond the affordable limit of the masses. He said the federal government was pursuing flowed policies which had resulted in a serious economic crisis in the country.

He said the federal policies were causing great harm to the agriculture sector as it was badly affected by the hike in the POL prices as well as gas and electricity tariffs. Agricultural produce had resultantly shot up due to the increased tariffs, he argued, and said it was painful to him that the ultimate sufferers were members of the general public.

Ismail Rahu said it was obvious that agricultural produce depended on water and Sindh had acutely been deficient in water supplies over the past many years. Still, he said, an acute water shortage prevailed in the province but the provincial government somehow managed to help growers and ensure good wheat, rice, sugar cane and cotton crops.

Regarding locust invasion, the minister appreciated the measures announced by the federal government to help eliminate the swarms but noted that implementation of such measures was awaited. He said that the Sindh government was taking all possible steps in this regard.

Mr Rahi also expressed his shock and grief over the recent murder of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Shahnaz Ansari in Naushahro Feroze district, and said Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had taken serious notice of the incident and asked police to ensure arrest of her killers.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2020