PKI For Introduction Of Wheat Support Price
Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) demanded the government to reinstate the wheat support price and provide subsidy on all types of phosphate fertilizers after assessing the input cost.
During a press conference in Multan on Monday, they stated that the country might face a wheat shortage of nearly 3 million tons this year if the issue is not promptly addressed.
Khokhar highlighted the global challenges, including the Gulf conflict, trouble in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which have escalated fertilizer and shipping costs, adding to farmers' existing burdens with higher diesel and electricity prices for tubewells.
Currently, growing one maund of wheat costs a farmer Rs 3,761. With a fair profit margin of 25%, the support price should be Rs 4,702 per maund to safeguard farmers' livelihoods and national food security.
PKI advocated for direct wheat purchases by the government from farmers and suggested providing subsidy on all phosphate fertilizers, not just DAP, to prevent black marketing and unnecessary foreign exchange expenditure on imports.