KARACHI: President of Pakistan Muslim League Functional Sindh, Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, has expressed serious concern over the agricultural situation in Sindh, stating that inconsistent government policies and delays in timely decisions are causing severe difficulties and financial losses for growers and farmers.
He said that a significant portion of Sindh’s economy depends on agriculture, but the growing challenges facing the sector are worsening the hardships of farmers and growers. These problems are affecting not only the farming community but also the general public and the province’s overall economy.
He expressed these views during a meeting with former federal minister Khair Muhammad Junejo at Functional League House in Karachi. Pakistan Muslim League Functional Sindh Secretary General Sardar Abdul Rahim, Nasir Jabbar Nizamani and Pir Ahmed Saeed Jan Sarhindi were also present on the occasion.
Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi said that wheat sowing begins earlier in Sindh than in Punjab, yet the provincial government has failed to announce timely policies regarding seed prices and other essential agricultural matters, leaving growers deeply concerned. He urged the government to formulate a clear agricultural policy covering seed prices, fertilizer availability and other essential farming inputs in line with the wheat sowing season, enabling farmers to cultivate their crops on time without uncertainty.
He further said that the absence of a clear announcement regarding the commencement of sugarcane crushing could disrupt the sugarcane harvesting schedule and subsequent crop cultivation. He called on the government to immediately announce a definitive schedule for the start of the crushing season at sugar mills and ensure the protection of growers’ interests to prevent unnecessary delays in harvesting and the cultivation of the next crop.
Expressing concern over the anticipated water shortage, Rashdi said that, according to available estimates, Sindh could face an approximately 22 percent reduction in its water supply this year. Under these circumstances, ensuring the fair and timely delivery of Sindh’s allocated water share is essential.
He demanded an immediate review of the issue of additional canals affecting Sindh’s water share and called for the implementation of agreed water-sharing principles to ensure that the province receives its rightful allocation. He warned that water shortages could leave agricultural land barren and severely affect crop production.
Rashdi said that the timely availability of water through the Kotri Barrage was crucial for agricultural activities. Delays in water supply had affected rice and other crops, resulting in substantial financial losses for growers. He added that farmers were facing further difficulties because of declining crop quality and production, as well as inadequate market prices for their rice harvest.
He urged the government to take effective measures to ensure fair prices for paddy, improve procurement arrangements and guarantee that growers receive reasonable compensation for their produce.
The Functional League Sindh president emphasized that the problems confronting agriculture were not limited to individual farmers but were directly linked to Sindh’s economy, food security and rural employment. He said that without timely water supplies, quality seeds, fertilizers, fair crop prices and a supportive marketing environment, agricultural production, rural livelihoods and the purchasing power of ordinary citizens would also suffer.
Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi urged the federal and Sindh governments to address the concerns of growers and farmers on a priority basis, ensure fair water distribution, announce wheat and sugarcane policies in a timely manner, and take practical steps to secure appropriate prices for paddy and other agricultural commodities.
He stressed that immediate and effective action was necessary to prevent further damage to Sindh’s agricultural sector and provide much-needed economic stability to the farming community.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026