Pakistan Farmers Demand Sugar Export, Wheat Support Price Amid Crop Uncertainty

Farmers in Pakistan are urging the government to allow the export of surplus sugar and set a minimum purchase price for wheat at Rs5,000 per maund. According to Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, President of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), wheat sowing is about to begin, but the government has yet to announce any policy regarding the crop.

Khokhar emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan's economy and wheat is the largest crop in the country. He stated that farmers are unable to use balanced fertilizers due to a lack of funds, which has resulted in a 46% reduction in DAP usage from 2.39 million tons to 1.25 million tons.

Khokhar also highlighted that sugarcane cultivation has increased by 16% this season, and sugar production is expected to rise by 25-30%. He warned that if the surplus sugar is not exported, farmers will face heavy losses, which can have a ripple effect on subsequent crops.