The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetables Exporters and Importers and Merchants Association have welcomed the proposals for Federal Budget 2015-16, envisaging various steps for the agriculture sector. 

The association's Chairman Research & Development, Waheed Ahmed, told the APP here on Friday that the government has announced an increase in loans disbursement target to Rs 600 billion for agriculture sector, reduction in sales tax on imported and local agricultural machinery from 17 per cent to 7 per cent, and other budgetary measures in the proposals. He said that these steps will bring more investment in agriculture sector, particularly help promote use of advanced technology in the sector. 

Waheed Ahmed said mark-up free loans to farmers for the installation of 30,000 solar-power tube-wells in the next three years will help overcome irrigation water shortage and save money spent on diesel powered tube-wells. He said that there is imperative need to promote modern production trends in agriculture sector to cut rising production cost, and these measures by the government will serve to this end.