KARACHI: Sindh Agriculture Minister Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar has called on the federal government to set a wheat support price amid growing pressure on farmers due to uncertain pricing.
In a statement, the minister stated that due to IMF conditions, provincial governments cannot independently announce support prices of wheat without the approval of federal government. “As a result, the delay in setting a minimum wheat support price is causing serious financial strain on growers,” he added.
Minister Mahar urged the federal government to set the wheat support price at a minimum of Rs4,200 per 40 kilogram.
He warned that if farmers do not receive a fair price, they may abandon cultivation of wheat and switch to other lucrative crops, which could potentially lead to a food crisis in the country.
The Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party has also demanded the announcement of a minimum support price for wheat.
The Sindh government has launched a Rs56 billion “Wheat Cultivation Support Programme” under which farmers would be given a subsidy of Rs24,700 per acre for the purchase of urea and DAP fertilizers.
The minister clarified that the subsidy would be provided to 411,000 farmers owning between 1 to 25 acres of land. So far, 132,601 farmers have registered under the programme.
