ISLAMABAD: Rains continuing from mid-March have badly affected the wheat crop in the country, particularly in upper Punjab, making it difficult to meet the target set by the government for the current year.
The unusual rains have either fully destroyed the crop or affected grains in terms of quality and weight. The stagnant rain water in fields will affect wheat yield considerably, according to agri experts.
Wheat farmers have demanded the government a special package to compensate their loss caused by rains.
Secratery Kissan Bachao Tehreek Ahmed Noor Dhudhi told APP that the rains had affected the wheat in upper Punjab, including Sargodha, Lahore and Gujrnawala divisions.
He said farmers would suffer financially due to the climate change as they would not be able to get potential wheat produce. The wheat grain this year, he added, would also be weak or have low gutton content due to stagnant water in the fields. He urged the government to instruct food department officials to purchase the crop from farmers without creating any hurdles.
Muhammed Ali, another farmer, asked the government to announce a compensatory package, besides waiving off Aabiana (agri-tax) for the farmers.
He also urged the federal government to release funds to compensate rice farmers under the package announced last year. The government had announced Rs.5,000/= per acre compensation for the rice crop in view of low prices internationally.
The farmers appreciated the Pakistan Metrological Department for timely rain forecast, which helped them adopt precautionary measures to lessen damage to wheat crop.
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