Wheat harvest goes high-tech, but at a cost

The growing use of modern harvesting machinery is rapidly transforming wheat farming in Khanewal district, offering efficiency and time savings but also creating new economic challenges for farmers and labourers.

Khanewal is among the major wheat-producing districts of Pakistan, where traditional harvesting practices have long been a defining feature of rural life. In the past, fields would be filled with labourers cutting wheat manually with sickles, often working for days to complete the harvest.

However, this landscape has changed significantly with the introduction of modern harvester machines, which can cut and process acres of wheat within hours. The machines separate grain and straw simultaneously, eliminating much of the labour-intensive work.

Local farmer Chaudhry Liaqat said that while mechanisation has reduced the risk of crop damage due to adverse weather and saved valuable time, it has also increased production costs.

"Machinery has made harvesting easier and faster, but rising diesel prices and high rental costs have added to our financial burden," he said, adding that harvesting costs have increased from around Rs5,000 per acre in the past to nearly Rs8,000 per acre. He noted that the increase in fuel prices has also driven up the cost of fertilisers, pesticides and other agricultural inputs, further straining farmers.

On the other hand, labourers have been adversely affected by the shift towards mechanisation. Tariq, a farm worker from the same area, said that seasonal employment opportunities have declined sharply.

"Earlier, we used to get work for several days during harvesting season and were often paid partly in wheat, which helped sustain our families for months," he said. "Now, machines complete the work in a few hours, leaving little employment for labourers."

Experts say that while agricultural modernisation is essential, it must be accompanied by measures to support rural labourers, including alternative employment opportunities and social protection.

They also point out environmental concerns, noting that increased use of machinery leads to higher fuel consumption and noise, which can affect the rural ecosystem.

Mehar Aftab Sargana, associated with the harvesting machinery business, said that the cost of purchasing harvesters runs into millions of rupees, while maintenance and spare parts add further expenses.

"Farmers hire machinery based on seasonal needs, and rates have increased due to rising diesel prices and expensive spare parts," he said.