Falling behind: Farmers protest neglected area as cost rises

Agriculture sector hit the hardest as global prices fall, argue officials

LAHORE: At a time when the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) has sent a delegation to Jiln, China, in a bid to foster business to business relations, disillusioned farmers in the province are protesting against the irregular policies of the government.

According to farmers, the cost of harvesting any crop has now exceeded the current market price due to high input outlays. In addition, the existing stocks are adding panic among the farmers.

“This sector of the rural economy needs special attention from policymakers,” said Faisal Cheema, a rice miller, while talking with The Express Tribune. “It is time to gift a ‘Metro’ to the crumbling agriculture sector of Punjab at an immediate basis,” he added.

He added that like other traditional crop farmers, rice processors from the last two years are under crisis. “Supply is more than demand due to drop in international prices and we are struggling to export products to a potential market,” he said. “Farmers are interested in harvesting paddy that is at the risk of diminishment for 2015-16. Only 3.7 million acres of land has been sowed against 4.64 million acres then the corresponding period, simply because growers are facing 50% loss in paddy,” Cheema said.

Cheema added that the government needed to intervene via the Trading Corporation of Pakistan or through the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation to announce support price for rice and buy the existing stocks, else the rice processors and millers would face bankruptcy, he added.

Other vulnerable crops   

Rice is not the only crop for which farmers are bearing losses; the loss in cotton crop is irking the agriculture sector as well. Sugarcane growers are facing around Rs1700 per mound in loss while the rice growers are facing a loss worth Rs31,000, claimed different farmer lobbies.

“Pakistan is rapidly converting to a services economy from agriculture economy and governments - both provincial and federal - are not paying much attention,” said economist Doctor Qais Aslam.

He further said that a majority of farmers are using old technologies and seeds for their crops which has resulted in a lower per-acre yield. “Only 12% of farmers are capitalist farmers and are using modern techniques in increasing per acre yields,” Aslam added.

“The concerns of farmers are legitimate and we are trying our best to facilitate the farmer community,” said Punjab Agriculture Minister Doctor Farrukh Javed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.

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