Kisan Ittehad Chairman Khalid Hussain Bath has issued a strong warning to the government, stating that if wheat prices are not fixed, farmers will be forced to launch a hunger strike in Islamabad, ARY News reported.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Bath criticised the government’s handling of wheat procurement, especially after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent announcement, which he said caused wheat prices to fall by an additional Rs 400 per 40kg.
He expressed concern over the new third-party procurement model, saying, “How can Punjab’s farmers be expected to understand a European-style system? Most don’t even know how to use storage facilities.” Bath urged CM Maryam to stop relying solely on bureaucratic advice and instead listen to the farmers’ voices. “This new storage mechanism will only create more opportunities for corruption,” he added.
Bath highlighted that 12.5 million acres of land in Punjab are currently under wheat cultivation. Without a government-fixed price, he warned, the market would crash, and the substantial funds being spent would ultimately benefit mafias instead of farmers.
He stressed the urgency of purchasing wheat now, noting that many farmers lack funds even for basic needs. “If wheat isn’t bought now, farmers will not plant it next season. In a few months, wheat will vanish from local markets, and the government will be forced to import it from abroad,” he cautioned. “It’s much wiser to support our local producers now.”
Earlier, CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced a Rs 15 billion wheat support package under the Kisan Card programme, which includes direct financial assistance to wheat farmers. The package, described by the government as “unique and unprecedented,” also includes waivers on irrigation and fixed taxes for the current year.
Additionally, farmers will be given access to a free four-month Electronic Warehouse Receipt (EWR) storage facility, aimed at protecting their wheat from both market pressure and the impacts of climate change.
