HYDERABAD: The Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAI), which met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Nawab Zubair Talpur, has resolved that despite adequate flows in the river, farmers are not getting irrigation water.

The meeting noted that non-availability of irrigation water could be attributed to bad governance. It also accused Irsa of violating the Water Apportionment Accord 1991 with the result that farmers do not get water for sowing. The meeting demanded that Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro ensure fair distribution of irrigation water.

The meeting observed that Punjab uses water meant for Sindh since it is an upper riparian, leaving Sindh growers to face shortage always. It accused the mill mafia of exploiting growers at the time of harvesting crops. The SAI said the paddy crop has been harvested in some areas, but rice millers, due to their monopoly, were denying fair price to growers.

It emphasised that the support price for wheat should be fixed at Rs5,000 per 40kg. It said the government should come clean in its policy for farmers. The meeting was told by growers that a rise in diesel prices had broken the back of farmers.

It demanded that the price for the upcoming sugar cane season be fixed at Rs600 per 40kg, and paddy at Rs4,000 per 40kg.

Meanwhile, the SAI also condemned the conspiracy to divide Sindh.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2026