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Incentive package for cotton growers in March

ISLAMABAD: Incentive package for cotton growers would be formulated by March and would be submitted to the cabinet for approval, sources in the food and agriculture ministry said.

The package is being prepared to motivate cotton growers who have fallen victim to various insecurities following the recent cotton crop crisis.

Sources said that the government aims to set a support price for the crop and will make up for any monetary loss incurred by the farmers who are forced to sell below the support price, the sources added.

The government is working hard to make the growers regain their confidence and ensure a good sowing season which is due to start from May this year, the sources further said.

The announcement by the Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf that the government will purchase the cotton from the growers will encourage them.

The provincial governments have also been asked to start work on their part to resolve farmer's problems, and meeting are being conducted in the provinces in this regard.

The department will also educate the farmers and provide them with both the technical know-how and expertise so as to ensure a good yield, they added.

Sources said that the farmers who were unable to store the crop had to therefore sell their yield at a price which was even lower than their cost, last year and caused a loss of millions of rupees to the growers.

The incentive package is being formulated on the lines to encourage the farmers to get bumper crop of the cotton next year, the sources added. APP