WHEAT growers in Sindh are facing immense hardships in view of the non-availability of gunny bags. Whatever stock of wheat bags is available, it is distributed either to influential landowners or supplied on charging extra money illegally.

When there is restriction on inter-district and inter-provincial movement of wheat in the province, non-availability of gunny bags leave hapless famers with no choice but to sell wheat at a much lower price. Wholesale purchasers are waiting in the wings for such an opportunity to arise.

They know that farmers cannot wait indefinitely in view of climatic uncertainties, as well as lack of storage facilities.

Moreover, they need money for running their daily affairs, pay debts and also to prepare for the second sowing.

Agriculture is now cost-intensive owing to overhead expenses of sowing, fertiliser, threshers, government tax, etc. When all these expenditures are calculated, there is hardly any savings to make a living.

This is causing frustration among the farming community. If small farmers would not get due attention from the government and public representatives, they may lose interest in farming and look for other alternatives like seeking employment and migrating to cities.

The Sindh government should consider immediately lifting the ban on wheat movement to enable farmers to sell their wheat product at a better price and ensure easy procurement of gunny bags to growers.

SIKANDAR ALI SHAH Kandiaro