KARACHI: Sindh Assembly was on Thursday informed that the government was taking measures to promote organic farming in the province as the whole world was moving towards organic vegetables.

Making a statement and replying lawmakers’ written and verbal queries during the Question Hour in the house, Agriculture Minister Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar said that his department had done a lot of research in the preparation of organic fertiliser.

To a question asked by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan member Dr Fouzia Hameed, he said that organic fertiliser for improving soil fertility was being prepared at the Soil Salinity and Reclamation Research Institute, Tandojam.

Besides, the minister said, biofertilizer was being prepared from plant material in the Biofertiliser Laboratory, established in the Agriculutre Research Centre, Tandojam.

He said that the Agriculture Research Wing had 13 soil and water testing laboratories in Badin, Thatta, Tandojam, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nausherhro Feroze, Dadu, Khairpur, Sukkur, Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts.

The minister said that the laboratories used to analyse soil samples to explore organic matter content in soil and suggest measures for improving the content. “Every year, 45,000 to 48,000 samples are analysed at these laboratories,” he said.

To another question asked by Dr Fouzia, he said that Agriculture Research Wing had reclaimed 17,500 acres of salinity-affected / marginal soil through application of gypsum and sulfuric acid.

Answering a question asked by MQM-P’s Abdul Waseem, the minister said that deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners acted as controller of prices and supplies within their respective jurisdiction for fixing of the prices of essential commodities under the Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act.

In reply to a question asked by MQM-P’s Bilqees Mukhtar, he said that there were three types of lentils i.e. red lentil, brown lentil and green lentil. “Mostly red lentil, locally called Masoor, is grown in the province,” he added.

When asked by MQM-P’s Moham­mad Daniyal if the counterfeit fertiliser was being sold in the province, the agriculture minister said strict action was taken against the people found involved in the racket.

He said that a total of 2,197 samples of fertilisers were drawn throughout the province and were sent to the Fertiliser Quality Control & Testing Laboratories, Hyderabad, and 184 were declared substandard, adding that actions were initiated against the fertiliser dealers and companies as per the Sindh Fertiliser Control Act, 1994.

Later, the house was adjourned for the day.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2024