HYDERABAD: Mango growers took to the streets on Monday to launch a protest against the mounting multifaceted pressures facing the agricultural sector. Demonstrators cited the crippling hike in fuel prices, a devastating surge in mango orchard diseases, and the controversial decision to change the mango export commencement date.

The protest was led by Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAI) president Nawab Zubair Talpur, Javed Riar, Mohammad Anwar, Saifullah Gill, Sharif Nizamani, Mian Shadab, Abdul Rahim Dars and others.

The SAI leaders said the agriculture sector was faced with the intricate crisis. They argued that while growers were already struggling with inadequate crop prices, the situation had been further compounded by an exceptional hike in fuel costs. It had badly hit the farm sector, they said, adding that other countries were offering subsidies to their people in view of the global fuel crisis. They demanded restoration of the old fuel prices.

They alleged that the FBR had failed to meet its shortfall in revenue targets and that’s why petroleum levy was imposed. They called for withdrawal of the levy to save the agriculture sector and added that even with taxes included, the price of petrol should not be exceeding Rs250 per liter.

They demanded that the export of mangoes should be allowed from May 15 instead of June 1 because by early June Sindh’s mangoes were not available in the market. They deplored the fact that mango orchards were facing diseases for the last several years but no research-oriented measures were taken by the agriculture department.

They suggested that agriculture research department officials should visit mango orchards and guide the owners about disease-control measures.

They also said that Nara and Rohri canals were having plenty of water flows but still tail-end areas, which were fed by those two channels, were not getting water supply.

They demanded reopening of the Tando Mohammad Khan district’s cattle market, which according to them had been closed for political reasons, to help enable livestock owners earn their livelihood.

They said police were preventing them from selling cattle and goats in the market. They condemned the opening of link canals by Irsa and demanded their closure.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026