- Farmers live hand to mouth, facing climate change, water shortages, flooding, and unaffordable inputs
Interview with Syed Nadeem Shah, a progressive farmer
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Syed Nadeem Shah: I am a farmer by birth. I started my partial farming with studies in 1975. I did BSC (HONS) diploma in Business studies with first position and MBA marketing. I grow sugarcane, cotton, rice, wheat besides vegetables. I also have small portion of banana, mangoes and lemon.
PAGE: What is the current state of agriculture sector in Sindh?
Syed Nadeem Shah: Agriculture sector is in doldrums in Sindh and all over Pakistan. All governments have zero priority for agriculture. Great boast, little roast. Actions speak louder than words. Policies are made by babus (influencial personalities) in Islamabad who don’t know A of agriculture, to be precise. There is no consistency in policies. All over the world, agriculture survives on subsidies. Our neighbouring country provides subsidy on all agriculture products and buys too on support price. Farmers are paying from pockets due to weak market mechanisms.
PAGE: How would you comment on import of sugar, wheat and vegetables despite being primarily an agro-economy?
Syed Nadeem Shah: Nowhere in the world any agriculture-based country imports at the time of harvest. It is only Pakistan where every crop is imported at the time of harvest. Government provides huge subsidies to business community on import, buys at higher price from foreign country, squanders huge foreign exchange at the cost of local consumers. 18% GST is imposed on local cotton however there is no tax on imported cotton. Imported wheat is of lower quality and is not even meant for animals. Same is the case with vegetables. Our tomatoes, onions, okra etc are given to animals as not even harvesting cost is recovered.
PAGE: What is your standpoint on incentives for farmers by the incumbent government?
Syed Nadeem Shah: No incentives have been given to farmers by this government; at least I have not heard so far. Farmers live hand to mouth. We are suffering from climate change, water shortages followed by flooding, inadequate and unaffordable input costs, adulterated seed, fertilisers, pesticides etc. Extraordinary tax burdens are totally unrealistic.
PAGE: How would you comment on return on investment to farmers?
Syed Nadeem Shah: Don’t think about any return on investment in agriculture. Agriculture is no longer a profitable business. You just see the report of Zarai Tarqiati Bank; its lending has decreased by 50%. Farmers are not able get anything from crop except loss, loss and loss.