Farmers demand 30 percent increase in wheat price

Farmers of Punjab have demanded at least 30 percent increase in the wheat support price after 100 percent increase in the cost of production otherwise Pakistan would again enter into import regime next year.
Wheat Growers Association said an increase in wheat price up to Rs 1,250 per 40kg would encourage wheat sowing as costs of inputs had raised multi folds since 2007-08 when the price was increased by Rs 950 per 40kg from Rs 625 per 40kg.
Farmers Associations pointed out that the unprecedented inflation in agriculture inputs and the general increase in prices of fuel, fertiliser, seed and other basic items have made wheat sowing uneconomical and unaffordable at the current price fixed by the government. Levy of 16 percent GST on tractors and agriculture inputs has further made the farming a costly and risky business.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Sunday, Chairman Pakistan Agri Forum Ibrahim Moghal pointed out that urea price spiked from Rs 850 per bag to Rs 1,900 per bag, DAP price from 1,140 per bag to Rs 4,200, wheat seed prices from Rs 950 to Rs 1,950 per bag, diesel price from Rs 72 per litre to Rs 94 per litre during the past three years while tractor has become costlier by Rs 100,000 to Rs 200,000 per piece since March 2011.
Moghal said the government has fixed wheat production target for 20-11-12 at 25 million tons. However, if the support price is not increased, the wheat production is not going to be beyond 20 million ton, making the country 4 million tons deficit with enormous social and economic setbacks.
He said the government should either substantially increase the commodity prices or give subsidy package to the farmers to enable the farmers cultivate essential Rabi crops like wheat, grams, oil seeds, sunflower, vegetables and fodder for the livestock.
Kissan Board Pakistan said that after fleecing the cotton and paddy growers by buying their produce at manipulated prices, the ruling sugar millers are now eyeing to buy the sugar cane at throw away prices.
KBP President Sardar Zafar Hussain and General Secretary Mohammad Ramzan claimed that the textile and rice millers had created new records of looting the poor farmers this year.
They said paddy is a perishable commodity but there is no buyer in the market due to non-intervention of the government in the market, therefore, farmers are forced to sell their produce at whatever price is offered to them. An agronomist and President Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) Tariq told this scribe that Rs 950 per 40kg price is not even a break even price after exorbitant hike in the cost of agri inputs.
He said "if we produce one million tons less wheat it amounts to Rs 24 billion losses to the nation. He said it is high time that the government should increase the support price of wheat before sowing of the strategic crop.
Director General Agriculture Extension Services Punjab Dr Anjum Ali said that wheat sowing in barani (rain fed) areas of Punjab has started after light rains and drop of temperature.