MULTAN : Jan 12,2023: Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has demanded agricultural emergency in Pakistan to address wheat crisis. The Kissan Ittehad claimed in its handout issued on Wednesday that Pakistan will also have to import wheat in 2023 because of government policies.It said Pakistan will support farmers of other countries and buy wheat from them at high prices INSTEAD of growing wheat in Pakistan.
“There are two lines in Pakistan today, one by farmers for buying urea fertilizer for wheat crop and
the other for buying Atta by people”, the Kissan Ittehad said. It added that Both issues are connected. Government needs to act fast to increase Wheat production. Shortage of Urea will also impact Pakistan’s exports due lack of enough raw material such from Cotton, Rice and Maize crops.
It maintained that Wheat support price was announced by Sindh province at Rs. 4000/maund. But no price was announced
in Punjab and KPK. Farmers did not maximise sowing area under wheat since they did not know the support price. Punjab Government must immediately announce Rs. 4000 per maund as wheat support price to stop smuggling of wheat !
Wheat crop sown in November is now looking weak due to lack of fertilizer input. Wheat yield per acre
will be very low this year. Also, the Government did not announce a wheat support price in 2022 to
ensure wheat is sown on a large area.
DAP price was Rs. 14,000 during November 2022 at time of wheat sowing versus Rs. 6000 in previous Rabi. This reduced DAP application on wheat by farmers. government did not support farmers through subsidy on DAP fertilizer.
Now in January, Government has shut down 2 Urea factories. This is the time for Urea application on Wheat. With severe shortage of Urea today, wheat crop will suffer further. Why does the Government
want to support farmers of other countries by importing wheat from them at higher prices rather than
ensuring high wheat production in Pakistan ? Why is the Government not interested in Self Reliance for Food Security ? Urea is being black marketed at Rs. 3000 per bag versus MRP of Rs. 2440. Also, it is not available for farmers. government must immediately re-start all Urea factories to ensure supply of urea for wheat crop. Crop is looking yellow without use of Urea.
The government is now hunting at imposing of GST on DAP. This will be a disaster for wheat and all other crops.
Like all other agricultural countries including our neighbour, the government must subsidize DAP fertilizer
with direct subsidy paid to farmers. Instead of imposing GST on DAP fertilizer. This is a huge food security
issue for Pakistan.
It demanded that GST on electricity for tubewells imposed since January 1,2023 must be removed. Other taxes have also been imposed. This is hurting the farmers who don’t have enough cash to buy the high priced agricultural
inputs. GST and all other taxes on electricity for tubewells must be removed. R&D for new high yielding seed varieties for wheat, rice, cotton and other crops is a must. Agricultural
yield per acre is less than half in Pakistan for Wheat and Rice versus advanced countries. There is huge
yield gap which can be reduced if Government focuses on seed R&D.
Self Reliance must be given priority instead of importing our Food. Pakistan must save foreign
exchange by producing its own food. Agricultural Emergency should be declared in Pakistan
It claimed that Pakistan imports US$ 14 Billion worth of agricultural commodities like Wheat, Cotton, Pulses, Tea and
Spices. This huge import bill can easily be cut by 50% simply by introducing Farmer Friendly policies.
Ensuring inputs at affordable prices and allocating appropriate budget for Seed Variety Research,
specially for developing climate resistant Cotton seed and high yielding wheat seed.
Pakistan has broad agricultural base and lots of Blessings of Almighty Allah. We need to explore this
potential and produce food for our masses and also export agricultural commodities. Agriculture can
become the export engine of Pakistan .
