Farmers Urge Government to Allow Sugar Export, Set Wheat Support Price
Pakistan's agricultural sector is facing significant challenges, according to representatives of various farmer organizations who met in Lahore on Tuesday. Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, President of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), emphasized that the government must allow the export of surplus sugar and set a minimum purchase price for next wheat crop at Rs5,000 per maund.
The PKI president pointed out that policy uncertainty and delayed decisions have caused heavy losses to growers in the past. He stated that farmers are unable to use balanced fertilizers due to lack of funds as they are not getting their production costs. Khalid Khokhar pledged that if farmers receive a good price for their crops, record-breaking wheat production can be achieved.
The government has not announced any policy regarding the wheat crop, despite sowing being about to begin. PKI leader Mahmood-ul-Hassan Bukhari criticized the government's failure to make timely decisions, saying 'If the government possesses complete data, why does it not export the surplus sugar?'