OKARA, Jan 13: The Potato Growers Society of Pakistan (PGSP) has said the country is self-sufficient in potato produce, therefore, the government must ban its import from India and other countries to save farmers.

This was said by PGSP President Dr Syed Afzaal Ali Rizvi on Tuesday while addressing a number of advanced potato growers at the office of the society where office-bearers of the Pakistan Horticulture Export Development Board (PHEDB) were also present.

Society director Mian Muhammad Siddique said at present the field production cost of potato was Rs10 per kg in the country due to high input expenditure, “but the imported potato from India is very cheap as the crop is fully subsidised there”. Siddique said the government must take notice of the situation and impose duty and sales tax on potato import for the betterment of growers.

Addressing the growers, PHEDB marketing manager Kashif Niazi spoke of steps which the farmers must adopt for potato export.

He advised the farmers to wash the produce, do proper grading and standard packing.

Mr Niazi said: “A food items exhibition is going to be held at Berlin (Germany) next month and if any advanced potato grower wants to participate in it, the horticulture export board is ready to share 50 per cent expenditure for a potato stall.” Society member Maqsood Jatt said potato graders were expensive and growers could not afford to install it.

He said the Punjab government had sanctioned three potato graders.

The potato society appreciated the efforts made by parliamentary secretary for finance MNA Sajjadul Hasan for raising growers’ voice in the parliament.