LAHORE, May 28: The Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) alleged on Monday farmers had suffered a loss of Rs10 billion to Rs15 billion because of wheat price crash, which ranged between Rs900 and Rs925 per 40 kilo instead of Rs1,050 per maund as declared by federal and provincial governments.

In a meeting chaired by President Tariq Bucha, the associates criticised the wheat procurement policy adopted and implemented by the Punjab Food Department and federal organisation Passco.

Participants said federal and provincial governments had failed to ensure fair prices to the farmers because of poor purchase policy and wheat bag distribution to the farmers through the Food Department and Passco.

They should increase their procurement target (procuring the entire produce), considering the fact that wheat is staple diet and essential for food security in Pakistan, says the meeting.

For future, the government should construct storage facilities to make sure that wheat is stored properly without losing its quality (latest silos should be made); hence increasing the demand of Pakistani wheat internationally. The FAP proposed to the government to invite private and public sectors offering incentives and appropriate motivations.

The meeting also criticised the government’s inefficiency over poor wheat exports and suggested a permanent board that should look after such issues.

The FAP asked the government to constitute a “wheat board” consisting of farmers’ representatives and others officials – secretaries and ministers for agriculture and food. The FAP said that the government had failed even to implement its own decisions of seeking help and cooperation of the committees specially formed for resolution of any disputes at the food procurement centers.

The participants said the ineffectiveness of food officials on site allowed revenue officials to exploit the farmers. They said that non-traditional and coercive methods such as ‘first-come, first-served’ and draw of names were adopted by the Food Department, hurting the farmers.

FAP demands that the governments look into it and ensure that a practical and workable solution involving real stakeholders should be formed. Otherwise farmers will stop sowing surplus wheat thus causing serious dent to the most important staple food and endangering food security.