CM orders release of funds to wheat growers

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the Agriculture Department to immediately start disbursing funds to small farmers under the 2025 Wheat Growers' Support Programme to ensure timely purchase of Urea and DAP fertilisers for the ongoing sowing season.

Chairing a high-level meeting at CM House on Friday, Murad Shah stressed that the scheme must reach genuine small-scale farmers without delay to maximise coverage before wheat sowing ends. "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 growers," he said.

The programme, aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in wheat and reducing import dependence, carries an estimated cost of Rs55 billion and targets 412,000 farmers cultivating 2.26 million acres across Sindh.

Under the approved mechanism, each farmer will receive Rs 14,000 per acre for DAP fertiliser and Rs 8,000 per acre for two Urea bags. The funds will be disbursed directly through verified digital channels to prevent misuse.

Sindh's wheat sowing begins in late October and continues through December — earlier in upper Sindh districts like Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and Ghotki, and later in lower Sindh, including Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, and Thatta — depending on canal water availability and maintenance schedules.

To ensure transparency, the Agriculture Department has developed a digital monitoring and verification system using Android-based field applications for data collection and verification by Field Assistants and Mukhtiarkars. The system includes real-time dashboards at district and head office levels, GPS tagging to prevent duplication, and automated SMS notifications to inform farmers of fund transfers.

All relevant documents — CNICs, photographs, Form VII-B, and affidavits (in Fotikhata cases) — will be uploaded directly through the app for verification.

The Chief Minister praised the department's digital reforms but instructed officials to ensure inclusivity so that no eligible farmer is excluded due to documentation issues.