LARKANA: The paddy growers of Sindh and Balochistan are facing low procurement rates being offered by traders and rice millers. Every year, approximately 3.5 million metric tonnes paddy is produced in both provinces. For the last few years, Chinese seed had been sown by farmers, instead of the old Philippines Irri-6 seed, introduced during General Ayub Khan’s era. According to the purchasers, the fresh paddy crop is wet and cannot be dried under sun by the tillers. Due to the late release of irrigation water, sowing was behind schedule. Traders in Badin, Talhar, Matli, Sanghar and other adjoining areas were offering prices of Rs 900 per 40 kg but in upper Sindh, buyers purchased paddy between Rs 650-Rs 680 per 40 kg. In Karachi, a 100 kg rice bag was being sold at Rs. 3,500 and one metric tonne at Rs. 35,000. In the international market, Irri-6 rice was being sold at $430 per metric tonne. Despite the high rates, farmers and rice millers were left at the mercy of exporters as government had decreased its role in the trade for the last few years, the growers said. The federal and provincial governments have not fixed procurement price of the commodity and have not opened procurement centers, which has made the growers suffer losses, they said. Former General Secretary Sindh-Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association Larkana Assad Tunio said that that due to the non-fixed support price of new rice crop, the entire business had gone into the hands of rice exporters, resulting in hardships for growers and consumers. Exporters have monopoly over the trade and the millers are unable to do anything, he remarked. President Larkana Chamber of Agriculture Syed Siraj Rashdi said that the rates had been willfully decreased and they have not even made the money they spent on the crops. He said that federal and provincial governments should take notice of this issue to save the growers. Growers hope that the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court take notice of this issue, he said. Rashdi said unless the federal government starts procurement through Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation, rates would not be enhanced. He said, instead of giving subsidy to growers and tillers, the government should fix support price of rice and paddy. The government should initiate procurement itself and when the rates become stabilized, only then rice should be sold in global market, he advised. Radio Pakistan Larkana building awaits inauguration: The construction of a new double-storey building of Radio Pakistan Larkana Station, consisting of ten studios over 26 acres of land, has finally been completed after 13 years. Although the first test transmission has aired, the building had been awaiting its inauguration to go on air for the last six months. The concerned authorities in Islamabad were also informed but no announcement has been made yet to make the station functional. The radio station is located on main Naudero-Sukkur Road near Chooharpur village. The project of low power transmission in Chooharpur was inaugurated by Benazir Bhutto in 1996. The project was originally planned to be upgraded to high power transmission in 2004 but the upgrades have not been completed to date. President Arts Council of Pakistan Larkana Chapter Aziz Sangi, Secretary Riaz Soomro, Manzoor Kohiyar & Inayatullah of Writers Club Larkana, Manzoor Mangi of Sindhi Adabi Sangat Naudero and civil society members demanded the federal government and Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage to make the radio station functional. A swift response to start the project would show the commitment of the rulers to this vital project, which will not only provide employment opportunities to people but also highlight the cultural and traditional values of Pakistan, they said. Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2017.