Kissan Ittehad Urges Govt to Declare Agricultural Emergency

Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, President of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, has called on the federal government to declare an agricultural emergency and implement a robust wheat procurement and marketing system. At a press conference, he argued that fixing wheat prices at a sustainable level could help reinvigorate the entire agriculture sector and bolster the national economy.

Khokhar welcomed the proposed wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40kg, stating that farmers had endured losses over the past three years, but this proposal had offered a glimmer of hope. He emphasized that the wheat price should mirror the true cost of production, and a reasonable support price would bolster the financial standing of farmers cultivating sugarcane, potatoes, rice, and peas.

Acknowledging the prime minister's consideration of a reasonable wheat price, Khokhar expressed gratitude, emphasizing that this would benefit farmers and bolster the economy. He warned that climate change, floods, droughts, and fluctuating rainfall patterns could pose significant challenges to global agriculture, potentially impacting wheat availability in international markets next year.

Khokhar urged the government to stockpile strategic wheat supplies and ensure procurement directly from farmers to secure national food security. He also appealed to the Punjab chief minister to establish a transparent mechanism for wheat sales, stressing that an effective marketing system was vital to shield growers from market volatility.

Khokhar noted the decline in agricultural input usage, with DAP fertilizer consumption in Pakistan dropping from 2.3 million tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes, reflecting the financial hardships faced by farmers. He pointed out that farmers who sold wheat at approximately Rs3,500 per 40kg were now encountering market prices surpassing Rs5,000, underscoring the necessity for a stable and transparent pricing policy.

Khokhar highlighted that while agriculture is subsidized globally, Pakistan persists in facing substantial challenges despite being an agrarian nation, importing edible oil, wheat, cotton, and pulses. He pointed out that Pakistan dedicates only 0.18 percent of its relevant budget to agricultural research, compared to Brazil's 1.16 percent.

Concerned about the decline in cotton production, Khokhar noted that it had plummeted from under 14 million bales to around five million bales, while India's output had surged to approximately 50 million bales. He urged the government to designate 2026-27 as the Year of Agriculture and take coordinated steps to fortify farmers, enhance productivity, and diminish reliance on imported agricultural commodities.