December 26, 2024 (MLN): The plight of farmers in Pakistan continues to worsen as rising input costs, policy inaction, and exploitative market practices push the agricultural sector to the brink.

Leaders of the Kissan Ittehad, a prominent farmers' advocacy group, have issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding immediate action to address these challenges.

The farmers have issued a stern warning to the government, threatening to organize a massive protest march to Islamabad.

If the Punjab government fails to raise the wheat support price and take decisive action to curb the escalating input costs that are crippling the agricultural sector.

Kissan Ittehad leaders also condemned the government’s hesitance to announce minimum crop prices, attributing it to conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

They argued that the IMF’s free-market policies, which discourage subsidies, have left farmers exposed to exploitation by market forces.

At a press conference earlier this week, Central Chairman of Kissan Ittehad, Khalid Hussain, strongly criticized the government for its indifference to the escalating challenges faced by farmers.

He accused the Punjab government of granting unchecked authority to flour mills, alleging that this has allowed them to exploit farmers.

Hussain claimed that the unchecked practices of these mills have resulted in billions of rupees in losses to the agricultural economy, further exacerbating the plight of the farming community.

Accompanied by Central President Mian Umair Masood, Hussain called for the wheat support price to be set at Rs5,000 per 40 kilograms and the sugarcane support price to be fixed at Rs400 per 40 kilograms.

He cautioned that if these demands are not met, farmers across Pakistan would be forced to march on the federal capital, potentially staging a prolonged sit-in.

Kissan Ittehad leaders called 2024 a challenging year for Pakistan’s agriculture, with Khalid Hussain citing delays in announcing minimum support prices for key crops like wheat and sugarcane.

Although the Sugar Mills Association agreed to purchase sugarcane at Rs400 per maund, mills are reportedly paying only Rs300 to Rs325 per maund.

This disparity, Hussain noted, has caused significant financial losses for farmers.

Electricity prices for tube wells have soared, while irrigation water costs have jumped from Rs300 to Rs5,000 per hour, further eroding farmers' profits.

Hussain criticized the government for failing to provide quality seeds and curb the black marketing of urea fertilizer, which has sharply increased production costs.

“Farmers are left bearing the brunt of rising input costs, while the government continues to withhold subsidies essential for the survival of the agricultural sector,” Hussain said.

Amid the escalating crisis, the Kissan Ittehad is urging immediate government action to stabilize the agricultural economy and protect the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Their demands highlight the urgent need for measures to resolve pricing disparities, curb rising input costs, and restore essential subsidies.

Without meaningful action, the looming protest march could disrupt the nation’s capital, further amplifying the voices of discontent within Pakistan’s farming community.

Copyright Mettis Link News

Posted on: 2024-12-26T10:13:37+05:00