Sherry Rehman calls for crop insurance, seed, fertilizer subsidy for flood-hit farmers

Senator Sherry Rehman called for an immediate crop insurance policy and seed and fertilizer subsidy for flood-hit farmers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

In a statement, Senator Sherry Rehman, expressing deep concern over the destruction of crops in 28 districts including Punjab due to devastating floods, said that the country is facing an agricultural emergency. 

Sherry Rehman said rice, cotton and sugarcane crops have been largely destroyed and thousands of villages including 1.3 million acres land of Punjab is still submerged in water. 

She said that the destruction of agricultural production poses serious risks of inflation and food shortages, while the most affected are small farmers and livestock farmers who have neither capital nor insurance facilities. 

Sherry Rehman demanded an immediate national crop insurance policy, seed and fertilizer subsidy, targeted cash assistance and the launch of a comprehensive recovery plan on the lines of 2010 and 2022. 

She said that better response and planning through modern technology and satellite data is indispensable, otherwise the country may face food crisis and unbearable inflation shocks.

Reporter: Rozina Ali