Eliminates five-bag-per-acre limit, says government will buy wheat directly from farmers
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced major relief measures for small farmers, announcing the abolition of limits of five bags per acre and said registered smallholders can now sell wheat to the government without quantity restrictions.
The Chief Minister made this announcement at a high-level meeting attended by Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and other senior officials. The meeting was held to review the current wheat procurement campaign for 2026.
Officials said the wheat procurement drive, launched on April 1, has a target of one million tonnes, with a support price set at Rs 3,500 per 40 kg. The program covers more than 332,000 farmers who farm approximately 1.94 million acres across the province.
The Food Minister reported at the meeting that only 8,958 tonnes of wheat have been procured so far, against a target of 973,900 tonnes, attributing the shortfall largely to previous restrictions imposed on small farmers.
Realizing this, Murad ordered the immediate removal of the limit and directed the food department to speed up procurement, ensure timely payments and strengthen field-level engagement with farmers.
The meeting was informed that payments to farmers have improved significantly and funds are now transferred within a day through the designated bank. 198.3 million rupees have been disbursed so far, the meeting was informed.
The Prime Minister emphasized that timely payments are crucial to building confidence among farmers and instructed authorities to encourage producers to take their wheat to official purchasing centres. He added that farmers who sell their products to the government will remain eligible for future subsidies and support programs.
To improve efficiency, the government has set up a complaints room, activated monitoring by assistant commissioners and revenue officers, and opened 12 additional procurement centres. Strict oversight has been ordered to ensure transparency and eliminate corruption, with a zero-tolerance policy for irregularities.
Murad reaffirmed that the wheat procurement campaign is vital to supporting farmers and ensuring food security in the province, stating that farmers remain the backbone of the economy and will continue to receive fair prices, timely payments and effective policy support.
