THATTA, Aug 18: Some 4,675 defaulters of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank, Thatta region, who are eligible to adjust their debt under the President's Kissan package are reluctant to avail themselves of the concession.

This was evident from seven 'field days' organized by the regional office of the bank in the district. As per official statistics, beneficiaries (defaulters), if availed the package by Sept 30 by paying 10 per cent down payment of their debt, a sum of Rs499.555 million would be involved as a total exemption to them in the district.

The farmers said since 1954 the district had been declared as calamity-hit area nine times due to cyclones, drought and the water shortage. They said Thatta and Badin districts produced 2.1 million tons rice in the past which had now been reduced to 900,000 tons only.

The farmers pleaded that Rs787.249 million project of the LBOD tidal link which was expected to reclaim 1.3 million acres of land in Sindh when launched in 1996 had proved to be counterproductive.

They said cyclones, hyper salinity, poverty, reduction in procurement rate of sugarcane and other such factors had rendered colossal losses to the agricultural sector in the district. Hence Thatta and Badin districts in view of these facts require waiver of loans, more incentives, subsidies and facilities, they said.

COUNCIL: The district council here on Monday demanded that the recovery of revenue and Abiyana (water charges) be waived due to an acute shortage of irrigation water.