Sindh boosts wheat sowing with Rs55bn farmer aid

November 1, 2025 (MLN): The Sindh government has directed immediate disbursement of funds under the 2025 Wheat Growers’ Support Programme to help small farmers purchase Urea and DAP fertilisers ahead of the ongoing wheat sowing season across the province.

Presiding over a high-level meeting on Friday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasised that the programme must reach genuine and small scale farmers without delay to ensure maximum coverage before the sowing season ends.

The wheat sowing period in Sindh begins in late October and continues until late December, varying across regions. In upper Sindh including Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and Ghotki sowing generally starts in late October and extends through November, while in lower Sindh such as Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, and Thatta it typically begins in mid-November and continues until late December.

The process largely depends on canal water availability following the Kharif harvest and canal maintenance schedules.

The Chief Minister stated that the initiative aims to boost wheat self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports, thereby conserving foreign exchange.

“This support is vital to help our small farmers prepare for the upcoming wheat season. We must ensure transparency, timely disbursement, and equitable access for all deserving farmers in Sindh,” he said.

Under the revised support mechanism, approved by the Sindh Cabinet on October 24, 2025, the government will transfer funds directly to farmers to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Each farmer will receive Rs14,000 per acre for the purchase of DAP fertiliser and Rs8,000 per acre for two Urea bags after verification. The initiative targets 412,000 farmers cultivating 2.26 million acres of wheat, with a total project cost estimated at Rs55bn.

To maintain transparency and accountability, the Agriculture Department has introduced a comprehensive digital monitoring and verification system.

The system includes Android-based field apps functioning both online and offline for real-time data entry and verification by field assistants and Mukhtiarkars.

GPS-tagged data, digital uploads of farmer documents (including CNIC, photographs, Form VII-B, and affidavits), and automated SMS notifications will ensure accuracy and prevent duplication.

During the meeting at CM House, attended by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary Agriculture Zman Narejo, and other officials, Murad Shah appreciated the digital reforms implemented by the Agriculture Department. He, however, instructed the team to ensure inclusivity so that no eligible farmer is excluded due to documentation issues.

The Chief Minister also approved a one-week extension until November 8, 2025 to facilitate wider coverage of wheat growers across the province.

The Sindh Wheat Growers’ Support Programme 2025 marks a major step toward modernising agricultural subsidies through digital verification and direct cash transfers, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and fair access for small farmers.

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