ISLAMABAD: The Kisan Union has issued a strong warning to the government, threatening a massive protest march to Islamabad if the Punjab government fails to raise the wheat support price and take decisive action to curb spiraling input costs that are crippling the agricultural sector.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Kisan Union Central President Khalid Hussain denounced the government’s indifference towards the growing challenges faced by farmers. He accused the Punjab government of giving unrestricted power to flour mills, enabling them to exploit farmers and causing billions of rupees in losses to the agricultural economy.
Flanked by Central Chairman Mian Umair Masood, Hussain demanded that the support price of wheat be fixed at PKR 5,000 per 40 kg, while he urged that the support price of sugarcane be fixed at PKR 400 per 40 kg. He warned that failure to meet these demands would force farmers from all over Pakistan to march towards the federal capital, with the possibility of a long-term sit-in.
Kisan Union leaders described 2024 as one of the most challenging years for the agricultural sector in Pakistan. Khaled Hussein highlighted several issues, including the government’s delay in announcing minimum support prices for vital crops such as wheat and sugarcane.
Although the Sugar Mills Association has agreed to buy sugarcane at PKR 400 per maund, mills are buying it at prices ranging between PKR 300 and PKR 325 per maund. Hussein said this discrepancy left farmers incurring huge financial losses.
Electricity prices for tube wells have increased, and irrigation water costs have risen dramatically from PKR 300 to PKR 5,000 per hour, putting further pressure on farmers’ profits. Hussein criticized the government’s failure to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds and combat black marketing of urea fertilizers, which led to significantly higher costs.
“Farmers are bearing the brunt of rising input costs, while the government continues to withhold subsidies necessary for the agricultural sector to survive,” Hussein said.
Kisan Union leaders also criticized the government’s reluctance to announce minimum crop prices, attributing this to conditions set by the International Monetary Fund. Under IMF policies aimed at promoting a free market economy, subsidies are not encouraged, leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitation by market forces.
As the crisis worsens, the Kisan Union is calling for urgent government intervention to stabilize the agricultural economy and protect the livelihoods of millions of farmers. The organization’s demands underscore the need to take decisive measures to address price disparities, control rising input costs, and restore critical subsidies.
Without meaningful action, the looming protest march could disrupt the country’s capital, amplifying the voices of discontent within Pakistan’s farming community.