Govt to provide free-of-cost seeds to farmers in flood-hit areas: Minister

ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 (NNI): Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema on Thursday informed the National Assembly that the government had allocated sufficient funds for the distribution of free-of-cost seeds among the farmers of flood-hit areas of the country.
Participating in the debate on a motion moved by Naveed Qamar, he said “This House may discuss the situation arising out of the recent floods in the country”, adding he said “I assured the member of the parliament that for the first time, farmers across Sindh and Balochistan provinces as well in flood-hit district each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces will be provided with free seeds for wheat.”
He further informed that Rs4 billion had been transferred to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). It had started the procurement of seeds for the farmers in the flood-hit areas.
The minister said that the federal government would also arrange Rs4 billion more for the purpose.
He said it was agreed that provincial governments would match the amount announced by the federal government. “We have started the procurement of the seeds, and these will be distributed among the farmers of the flood-hit areas without any discrimination”, he added.
The minister said that the federal government was keen to review the agriculture sector in the flood-hit areas as it will be beneficial for the country.
Participating in the debate, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Ghous Bux Khan Mahar asked the government officials to visit the flood-hit areas of Sindh and Balochistan. He alleged that relief goods had not been provided to flood victims in the Sindh province. He said that flood affectees are living in the open sky and demanded the Sindh government reach out to help flood victims.