ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has prepared a relief package for the agriculture sector to handle the impact of the coronavirus epidemic.
According to a press statement issued by the ministry, under the relief package, a subsidy of up to Rs 37 billion will be given on urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers which will directly help cultivators.
In addition, the government is proposing to pay 10percent of the interest on agricultural loans taken by farmers, the statement said. The statement further said the ministry is also considering giving relief to the poultry sector under the head of loans.
The ministry had also decided to give a subsidy of Rs 16 billion so that medicines to control the whitefly attack on cotton are available to the cultivators at cheaper rates.
Sources said the food ministry had finalised different relief package for the agriculture sector and its summaries would put forward to the next Economic Coordination Committee meeting.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had urged to pay greater attention to helping the agriculture sector and small and medium sector enterprises enabling them to create greater job opportunities for people of the country.
The prime minister had expressed these views while chairing a meeting with his economic team in Islamabad on Monday to review the economic situation in the wake of the epidemic situation.
Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umer, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Adviser to PM on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, PM’s Special Assistant on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and senior officials attended the meeting.