SUKKUR: The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture and Food (SCFA), an organisation representing growers and farmers of Sukkur division, has condemned alleged harassment of small farmers during the ongoing crackdown on hoarders.
The association has claimed that officials of the food and revenue departments were conducting raids on wheat godowns in Khairpur and Sukkur districts, since completion of the wheat procurement season.
Speaking at a press conference in Hingorja, SCFA Sukkur Division President Prof Abdul Sami Bhambhro alleged that the authorities had failed to purchase wheat from farmers during the official procurement drive, despite assuring growers owning less than 25 acres of land that their produce would be purchased.
He said that farmers continued to approach the food department throughout the procurement campaign, but their wheat was not purchased.
“Now that the wheat has largely been sold and farmers have retained only limited stocks for household consumption and seed purposes, officials are sealing their warehouses and subjecting them to unnecessary harassment,” he alleged.
Prof Bhambhro further alleged that officials of the food and revenue departments were demanding hefty bribes from farmers during the ongoing inspections and raids.
He maintained that the Sindh High Court had already directed the authorities not to harass individuals holding valid flour mill or chakki licences, but claimed that the court’s directives were being ignored. He announced that a farmers’ convention would soon be held to expose what he described as irregularities and misconduct by the food and revenue departments.
Referring to wheat price, Prof Bhambhro said farmers had no objection if the government purchased wheat at the prevailing open market rate.
He questioned why the Sindh government was reportedly purchasing wheat from Passco at Rs11,000 per bag but was unwilling to procure wheat from local farmers at the same price.
Prof Bhambhro criticised the sealing of farmers’ warehouses and the confiscation of wheat stocks, calling such actions unjustified and unlawful.
Warning the authorities, he said any revenue or food department official found forcibly breaking warehouse looks or confiscating wheat would face legal action in the courts.
He stressed that farmers were storing wheat for domestic consumption and future cultivation, not for illegal trade, and urged the authorities to stop what he termed harassment.
Prof Bhambhro also advised farmers across Sukkur Division, who believed they had been subjected to illegal action, to seek legal remedy by filing petitions before the Sindh High Court or the relevant sessions courts, assuring them that the chamber would provide legal assistance.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026
