Wheat Prices Crash to 2800 in Jacobabad; Farmers Face Major Setbacks

In Jacobabad, Sindh, small-scale farmers face challenges due to discrepancies in wheat pricing and the inequitable distribution of resources.

Journalist and YouTuber Mughees Ali has reported that after the recent wheat harvest, farmers are compelled to sell their wheat at market rates ranging from 2,900 to 3,000 rupees per maund, which starkly contrasts with the government’s stipulated price of 4,000.

Local farmers have reported that officials from the Food Department are reluctant to purchase wheat at the set government prices. This has led to calls from the agricultural community for the government to lower the prices of Urea and DAP fertilizers, which would help offset the rising cultivation costs.

Compounding the issue, there is growing unrest among small landholders in the region over the distribution of wheat bags necessary for procurement. It has been alleged that the Food Department’s staff favours influential landlords by distributing these bags and purchasing their wheat at the government-sanctioned rate. In contrast, smaller farmers are left struggling to secure fair crop prices.

Small farmers have called on the government to take decisive action to stop what they perceive as stealing farmers’ rights and ensure a fair and transparent distribution of procurement bags.