LARKANA: The Sindh AbadgarBoard(SAB)hasproposed formation of a committee comprising experts of agriculture, irrigation, food and other related sectors and farmers` representatives to suggest ways and means to help resolve nagging issues of the farm sector.

The committee should have equal representation of experts and farmers and it should meet regularly under the Sindh chief secretary to assess genuine issues of agriculture, said Gada Hussain Mahesar, central vice president of SAB, after a meeting with MNA Faryal Talpur here on Tuesday.

He said that an encouraging support price should be announced prior to cultivation of each crop to encourage framers looking for a fair return on their crop.

He said that neither the government nor the officials of the agriculture department were paying any heed to growers` problems which continued to multiply by each passing day.He said that unfortunately no Sindh government in past and present had taken proper steps to end crisis in the important sector by formulating adequate and balanced policy based on ground realities.

He said the elected representatives were least concerned about agriculture. A very disastrous situation was emerging with large scale population of low-income group associated with agriculture migrating from rural to urban areas to find employment. The practice continued unabated, adding to growers` problems, he said.

Mr Mahesar said that at present controversial distribution of irrigation water was the main hindrance to increase in agriculture production as Sindh did not only get water late but also less than its just share. Unfortunately, there was no strategic approach to solve the crisis, he said.

MNA Faryal Talpur assured Mr Mahesar of considering the proposals and discussing them with the chief minister.

Mr Mahesar said he had also sent a copy of the letter to the chief minister.SUKKUR: A large number of growers held a demonstration and a sit-in outside the ofhce ofengineeroftheirrigation department in Mirpur Mathelo on Tuesday in protest against acute shortage of irrigation water.

The protesters` leaders Mir Ahmed Mahar, Barkat Mahar and Usman Mahar told journalists that growers were facing problems because of shortage of water in Shah minor and Narli minor.

Theysaidthattheycouldnot grow anything last year on their lands because of a water shortage and they would again be unable to grow wheat crop this year because of the same problem.

They said that the expenses incurred by growers on excavation of canals should be reimbursed by the irrigation department. They had had a canal de-silted but now the department was not paying them dues, they complained.

They warned they would block the National Highway at Mirpur Mathelo if water was not released into Shah Minor and Narli minor within two days.