The Sindh government has urged the federal government to set the minimum wheat support price at Rs 4,200 per maund, opposing the rate of Rs 3,500 recently approved by the federal cabinet under the new wheat policy.
Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar said that due to IMF conditions, provincial governments are not allowed to independently announce or implement support prices without federal approval.
Speaking to reporters, Mahar stated that Sindh has already introduced a Wheat Cultivation Support Program worth Rs 56 billion to assist farmers. Under the package, farmers are being given a subsidy of Rs 24,700 per acre to help purchase fertilizer and other agricultural inputs.
The provincial minister emphasized that the current federal rate does not cover farmers’ rising input costs, particularly after the increase in diesel and fertilizer prices. He added that the province’s demand for a higher support price aims to ensure fair compensation for growers and encourage greater wheat production in the coming season.
A day earlier, the federal government approved the national wheat policy, setting the minimum support price at Rs 3,500 per maund. Under the plan, both federal and provincial governments will jointly procure around 6.2 million tonnes of strategic wheat reserves to stabilize domestic supply.
The policy also allows unrestricted inter-provincial movement of wheat, ensuring smooth distribution and availability across the country.
