No let-up in wheat farmers’ complaints

Growers decry lack of assurance of fair price

LODHRAN:

Local farmers have complained of problems in get gunny bags for selling wheat to the government at the minimum support price.

They alleged that a large number of the sacks had been distributed among favourites with the connivance of some officials.

A farmer, Sajid Ali, said no one was ready to buy wheat at the government rate.

Earlier in the week, the assistant commissioner had seized wheat packed in government gunny bags from the Grain Market in Lodhran and announced that three shops had been sealed. But even after the passage of three days, no legal action has been seen.

The farmer said the uncertainty has provided an opportunity to elements involved in profiteering and corruption to exploit the farmers, creating a crisis for them.

The farmers said the authorities had not indicated any plan to ensure the wheat procurement at fair price.

The crisis began when middlemen started buying wheat from farmers at low prices. They later started delivering the wheat to other districts as well for sale at high prices.

A grower said the district administration was responsible for ensuring the payment of fair price to farmers but had failed to take any meaningful action against profiteers. He called for early steps to tackle the situation, including ensuring fair prices for farmers and distribution of gunny bags.

Sajid Ali said he owned 25 acres of land in Gogaran and had been visiting the local PASSCO centre for several days, but had not received the gunny bags.

Chaudhry Manzoor Gujjar said he has cultivated wheat on 70 acres in Basti Mehrabad but did not get gunny bags.

Farmer Umeed Ali from Ada Shahnal said the issuance of gunny through a mobile application in past years had been better. He said it had become impossible for farmers to get gunny bags at the government centres.

The assistant commissioner concerned was not available for comments on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2024.