KARACHI:
Agriculture is a major driver of Pakistan’s economy. It is believed in rural areas that the markets are busiest when farmers are prosperous. However, this prosperity has been dwindling lately. Last year’s floods ruined more than a million acres of cropland across Punjab. It must not be forgotten that for many people, the sole source of income was their land. With the crops destroyed, they had to take loans to make ends meet until the next yield.
It was expected that the government would step in to help farmers recuperate during the wheat harvest. However, the Minimum Support Price set by the government was Rs3,500 per 40kg — Rs400 less than the previous year. Due to the low price, the large landowners hoard crops and wait for the price to rise, whereas the smallholders, desperate for money, are forced to sell promptly.
With the threat of another flood looming, the smallholders face a dire prospect. Despite inflated costs of cultivation and a near-empty purse, they have once again bet on their fields. Failure this time will force many to consider other means of sustenance, which will aggravate the country’s problem of wheat shortage.
Sadoon Ihsan Hunjra
Hafizabad
