Lahore: The agricultural sector in Punjab is currently witnessing significant tensions between farmers and the provincial government, with both sides presenting conflicting views on the handling of the agricultural crisis and wheat procurement.
Farmers, led by Khalid Khokhar, President of the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, have expressed frustration and deep dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the ongoing challenges faced by the agricultural community.
They argue that the measures put in place by the government are insufficient and fail to address the core issues affecting their livelihoods.
Farmers’ Frustration and Protest Plans
Khalid Khokhar, during a press conference in Lahore, sharply criticized the provincial government for its handling of the agricultural situation.
He stated that the government’s policies were suffocating the agricultural community, pointing to the farmers’ inability to meet even basic needs like providing for their children’s education due to dwindling agricultural returns.
Khokhar went on to announce that in protest, farmers would reduce their wheat sowing in the coming season as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction.
He also rejected the Punjab government’s aid package, calling it ineffective and accusing them of having ruined the agriculture sector.
Furthermore, Khokhar urged political parties to focus on the country’s national interest rather than politicizing the wheat issue.
He also criticized the situation in other provinces, particularly Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PPP and PTI hold power, respectively.
Khokhar pointed out that despite the criticism of the PML-N in Punjab, similar issues were unfolding in these provinces, where provincial governments were also failing to procure wheat from farmers during the current harvesting season.
Government’s Defense and Policy Initiatives
In contrast to the farmers’ accusations, Punjab’s Agriculture Minister, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, and Information Minister, Azma Bukhari, defended the provincial government’s actions.
The ministers argued that the opposition was using wheat procurement as a political tool, distracting from the government’s genuine efforts to support farmers.
Kirmani highlighted the role of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who was personally overseeing wheat market monitoring in Punjab, as a sign of the government’s commitment to the cause.
Minister Kirmani detailed several initiatives aimed at providing support to farmers.
This included a record budget allocation for agriculture, subsidies on inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and tractors, as well as the disbursement of Rs 52 billion in interest-free agricultural loans through the Kissan Card program.
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He also noted that the use of urea and wheat sowing had both reached record levels, citing these as signs of the government’s success.
Moreover, Kirmani criticized the previous government, calling it neglectful of the agricultural sector’s needs.
A notable part of the government’s strategy is the focus on empowering the private sector. Kirmani revealed that Rs 110 billion in interest-free loans would be made available to private sector entities and flour mills, with the stipulation that they purchase 25% of the wheat stock.
Additionally, the government introduced the concept of Electronic Warehouse Receipts (EWR), which allows farmers to store their wheat for up to four months and access immediate cash through bank loans by leveraging the warehouse receipts.
The Punjab cabinet also approved amendments to the Food Grains Licensing Control Order 1957, mandating flour mills to procure 25% of the wheat and threatening license cancellations for non-compliance.
Further, the government will bear the cost of storage for farmers using EWR, thereby increasing flexibility for farmers and ensuring financial security.
Political Divides and the Wheat Issue
The ongoing political conflict around wheat procurement and agricultural policies has taken on a larger narrative of blame-shifting.
The Punjab government insists that its interventions are designed to support farmers and stabilize the wheat market, while opposition groups criticize the government for failing to address their most urgent concerns.
The involvement of opposition parties in the narrative has made it more difficult for the public to discern whether the government’s measures are genuinely effective or simply part of a political agenda.
The debate highlights how agricultural issues in Pakistan are often interwoven with political dynamics, with provincial governments and opposition parties pointing fingers at each other instead of collaborating for meaningful solutions.
This blame game detracts from the central issue—ensuring that Pakistan’s farmers have access to fair prices, adequate support, and long-term stability.
Impact of Government Measures and Their Effectiveness
While the provincial government has made several efforts to intervene, including the introduction of interest-free loans and the establishment of mechanisms for better wheat procurement, many farmers remain unconvinced that these measures are enough.
Read More: FAO: Wheat Availability Rose After Support Price Policy Change
Farmers’ grievances go beyond just financial assistance—they also revolve around systemic issues like fair market access, low crop prices, high input costs, and inadequate infrastructure. T
he government’s focus on providing temporary financial aid through programs like the Kissan Card and interest-free loans may alleviate short-term challenges but does not address the long-term structural problems plaguing Pakistan’s agricultural system.
While the increase in fertilizer usage and wheat sowing figures is presented as evidence of government success, these numbers fail to capture the full scope of the agricultural crisis, particularly the economic struggles of small-scale farmers.
Without tackling issues like poor infrastructure, access to markets, and fair pricing, these measures may not be sufficient to reverse the sector’s decline.
Wheat Procurement and Food Security Concerns
Wheat remains a critical crop for Pakistan, both in terms of food security and economic stability.
The government’s efforts to stabilize wheat prices and ensure fair procurement are essential, but if farmers continue to feel alienated and underpaid, they may reduce production in the coming years, which could affect both the local food supply and agricultural output at large.
Farmers are not merely asking for immediate relief; they want systemic changes that address the root causes of their economic struggles.
These include better access to financial resources, fairer pricing mechanisms, and policies that ensure they can weather the challenges posed by climate change and rising production costs.
The tension between farmers and the Punjab government highlights a broader crisis in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
Despite various government initiatives, the deep-seated issues facing the sector—low farmer incomes, rising costs, inadequate infrastructure, and poor market access—remain largely unaddressed.
Also Read: Wheat Price Dispute: Farmers Warn of Nationwide Hunger Strike
While the government’s actions may provide short-term relief, without long-term structural reforms, the situation may not improve.
Pakistan needs a comprehensive and sustainable approach to agriculture that goes beyond emergency measures and focuses on building resilience in the sector. Only through such reforms can Pakistan hope to secure a prosperous agricultural future a
