SINDH frequently faces wheat crisis, which is a result of wrong policies and the inefficiency of the food department. The food officials have once again demonstrated similar incompetence ... . The food department failed to achieve the target of procurement of 1.8 million bags of wheat. Now, to conceal inefficiency, food officials are raiding godowns of traders so that the target fixed could be achieved from the market. The food department seldom happens to achieve the target of wheat procurement. The common practice is that with the harvesting of the wheat crop, the food department fixes the minimum price and starts procurement. …

It is also [standard] practice that procurement centres are not set up in required numbers and … gunny bags (bardana) are not distributed judiciously. This compels growers to bring their produce to market. When the target is not achieved the food officials resort to raiding the grain market. …

In harvesting season not setting up proper centres … for growers leads to smuggling of wheat. There are reports that wheat was smuggled to Afghanistan and also reached Karachi port during the recent season. If there was a ban on movement of wheat how did this happen?

The agriculture sector is ... is a victim of fake seeds, pesticides and fertiliser and also water shortage. Due to water shortage growers have to depend on tube wells for which they bear heavy expenses of electricity and oil. This increases the cost of production. The growers do not get fair prices for their produce; hence the grower is always [facing] loss. Neither bardana is supplied nor fixed prices are paid: where should the grower go? Every producer fixes the price of his product. But growers cannot do so; they are either at the mercy of the government or the trader for fixing prices. …

The grower is also a victim of the nexus of traders, hoarders and corrupt food officials. First the produce is hoarded, later it is imported after creating an artificial shortage. … Due to this import the commodity becomes available in surplus hence growers do not get a proper price. After some time the commodity is exported on the pretext of surplus stocks. All profits and benefits go to importers and exporters. The government should hold accountable the food officials who failed to achieve the wheat procurement target. …—(May 18)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi.