Kissan Ittehad announces protest march as wheat crisis looms large

The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) announced to a protest march from Multan to Lahore on May 10 to register their concerns and protest regarding the wheat issue. While holding a press conference here on Sunday, Chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar stated that the march would be attended by thousands of the peasants. He added that farmers would join protest march with their families, tractor trollies, and animals. The protest will continue till imposition of agriculture emergency in the province, he said. About the agriculture emergency, he stated that government would have to announce start of wheat purchase, low electricity tariff and decrease in Urea fertilizer prices. About recent wheat crisis, he alleged that decision was wheat import was based on corrupt practices. When a bumper stock was available in the country, there was no need to import wheat, he added. He called for punishment to the persons involved in the mega scandal. Khalid Khokhar stated that the farmers were under immense tension due to lack of wheat purchase. Farmers are not in position to sow next important crops including cotton and rice, he said and added that Pakistan used to export material worth 31.5 billion dollars annually. However, the export of nearly 22 billion dollars is comprising of agriculture products, he added. In case the farmers do not focus on next crop, there can be decrease in country’;s exports, he feared. He lamented that country’;s agriculture sector had always been ignored. However, food security was one of the major issues across the globe. Khokhar added that the spending on agriculture sector was only 0.8 percent of the total GDP. How can a country progress if the spending on agriculture is too meager, he posed question. The Chairman Pakistan Kissan Ittehad expressed concern stating that society did not give due regard to farmers. He however urged civil society, lawyers, students, journalists and others to join farmers protest. Separately, a crucial piece of evidence has emerged shedding light on a brewing conflict between the federal and provincial governments, posing a significant threat to the agricultural sector. The high-level inquiry committee, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in its investigation, found a letter which was penned by the Secretary of Food, Punjab, addressing the Secretary of National Food Security. On March 25, 2024, the Punjab government took a decisive step by addressing a letter to the Secretary of National Food Security, urging the immediate halt of wheat imports totaling 2.6 million tonnes. Despite the letter, prohibiting the Secretary of National Food Security from procuring wheat, the federal government proceeded to import a staggering 8.5 million tons of wheat. The Punjab’;s Food Secretary in the letter opposes the continuation of wheat imports, citing the already alarming import figure of 3.4 million tons and the potential surplus it would create in the market. Moreover, the letter underscores Punjab’;s substantial wheat stocks, currently standing at 2.2 million tons, a figure that could exacerbate the surplus dilemma if not addressed promptly, which can negatively impact the local farmers. With Punjab’;s wheat production area expanding from 16 million to 17.4 million acres and production estimates soaring from 21.3 million to 24.2 million tonnes, the influx of imported wheat threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of supply and demand, plunging farmers into a financial crisis. In the letter, the food secretary highlighted the stark contrast with Punjab’;s wheat procurement efforts last year amounted to 4 million tons. Yet, due to the inundation of imported wheat in the market, the release of Punjab’;s wheat stocks may be restricted to a mere 1.8 million tons, exacerbating concerns over market equilibrium and farmer welfare. Furthermore, Punjab’;s substantial wheat stock, valued at Rs 80 billion, poses a financial burden compounded by accruing interest. This underscores the urgent need for decisive action to mitigate the economic strain on the provincial government and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.