LAHORE, Oct 14 (APP):Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar on Wednesday welcomed the proposed wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40kg, saying that fixing a fair price before sowing in consultation with the provinces would encourage farmers to cultivate wheat and help ensure affordable food for consumers. Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, he said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement regarding the timely determination of wheat …
Kissan Ittehad welcomes proposed wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40kg
LAHORE, Oct 14 (APP):Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar on Wednesday welcomed the proposed wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40kg, saying that fixing a fair price before sowing in consultation with the provinces would encourage farmers to cultivate wheat and help ensure affordable food for consumers.
Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, he said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement regarding the timely determination of wheat prices was encouraging for the farming community. He said the proposed price was an important step towards reviving the agricultural sector, adding that agriculture should be granted the status of an industry.
He said Pakistan’s economic development and food security were closely linked to farmers’ prosperity, as millions of families depended directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. A fair wheat price would encourage cultivation, improve agricultural production and help maintain a balance between supply and demand, he added.
Khokhar said farmers had faced severe financial difficulties over the past two to three years due to inadequate wheat prices, prompting many to shift towards other crops. This had created imbalances in cultivation patterns, affected the prices of certain crops and disrupted wheat production and supply.
He stressed that wheat prices should be determined by keeping farmers’ actual production costs in view, including expenses on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, diesel, electricity, water, land preparation, harvesting and transportation. Without adequate returns, he said, farmers would struggle to arrange resources for subsequent crops, ultimately affecting national food security.
He urged the government to announce a clear wheat pricing policy in a timely manner and establish a transparent and effective procurement mechanism. He also called for the timely provision of gunny bags to farmers and arrangements enabling them to sell their produce at the announced price without facing uncertainty or unnecessary difficulties.
The Kissan Ittehad president said effective wheat procurement, storage and marketing systems were essential to maintain adequate national reserves and ensure the availability of wheat at affordable prices. He condemned the creation of artificial shortages for personal profit and appreciated the prime minister’s decision not to grant concessions to wheat hoarders.
He said a fair wheat price could also have positive implications for other crops, including potatoes, sugarcane, maize, onions and cauliflower, by helping farmers make better decisions regarding crop selection and cultivation.
Highlighting other challenges facing the agricultural sector, he referred to climate change and water scarcity, stressing the need for improved agricultural planning, appropriate crop selection and efficient use of available resources to meet future food requirements.
Khokhar said the objective was to protect farmers’ rights, increase agricultural production and strengthen Pakistan’s food self-sufficiency rather than promote confrontation. He expressed hope that the government would adopt policies ensuring fair returns for farmers and affordable food for consumers.
He appealed to farmers across the country to actively participate in wheat cultivation and use available resources efficiently, expressing confidence that fair pricing, better planning and transparent procurement would help offset farmers’ previous losses and strengthen national food security.
