On November 24, 2024, wheat cultivation in Pakistan is experiencing significant delays, primarily due to severe financial losses farmers faced last year from the lack of government procurement. The situation raises concerns that the indebted Pakistani government may need to spend foreign reserves to import wheat to meet domestic food requirements.
According to Khalid Khokhar, president of the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, the wheat yield is expected to drop by 20% compared to last year. A 15% decrease in production is attributed to reduced acreage for cultivation, while the remaining 5% decline is due to farmers' inability to afford quality seeds and adequate fertilizers amidst economic challenges.
During a recent official meeting chaired by Punjab's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, it was reported that the wheat cultivation target for Punjab was set at 16.5 million acres, but only 7.09 million acres have been planted so far, indicating that less than half of the official target has been achieved.
In various divisions, the area planted with wheat has fallen short of targets. For instance, in Sargodha, only 633,000 acres were cultivated against a target of 1.74 million acres, and in Sahiwal, 416,000 acres were planted versus a goal of 920,000 acres.
Wheat is crucial for food security in Pakistan, with 70% of the national production coming from Punjab. In response to the situation, Punjab's Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a special package to boost wheat cultivation and production.
The package includes a lottery system to provide 1,000 tractors to farmers cultivating over 25 acres, while smaller farmers will receive assistance through farmer cards for seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural medicines. Additionally, competitive incentives for high-yield farmers are part of this initiative.
Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan, Secretary General of the Kisan Board Pakistan, expressed skepticism about the government's promises, citing previous unfulfilled commitments regarding wheat procurement prices. He urged the government to declare a support price for wheat immediately to ensure fair compensation for farmers.
Farmers are struggling significantly, with reports of land leased for wheat cultivation being abandoned as costs outweigh potential returns. Many small farmers are opting to plant alternative crops instead of wheat due to low profitability.
The Punjab government has mandated that all leased government lands must be used for wheat cultivation this year, but farmers argue that the total area is insufficient to impact overall production significantly.