KARACHI / LARKANA: The Sindh government has demanded that the federal government establish an effective mechanism to fix a support price for paddy, similar to wheat, so that farmers can receive fair compensation for their hard work.

In a statement, Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar stated that the provincial government was fully aware of the difficulties faced by rice growers.

He emphasised that setting the support price for paddy was the authority of the federal government, but Sindh insisted that the federation make an immediate decision in this regard.

Mr Mahar explained that committees had been formed at the district level to address farmers’ complaints and maintain direct contact with them. “These committees will be headed by assistant commissioners and secretaries of market committees. They will take action against middlemen and submit weekly reports to the agriculture secretary’s office,” he added.

The minister said Sindh’s efforts are aimed at ensuring rice farmers receive agricultural subsidies similar to wheat growers, helping them reduce production costs and secure better profits.

The minister further announced that all agricultural subsidies will now be provided through the Benazir Hari Card. For this purpose, the Sindh government is developing a new transparent system to ensure subsidies reach deserving farmers directly, he added.

He directed district officers to promptly resolve farmers’ complaints regarding illegal deductions in paddy prices and to settle disputes between farmers and middlemen at the local level.

He clarified that, given the current economic situation and IMF decisions, provincial governments cannot independently fix crop prices. The federal government must take provinces and other stakeholders into confidence and devise a long-term, sustainable agricultural strategy.

The minister said that through the Benazir Hari Card, the Sindh government is providing direct financial assistance to small farmers to strengthen and stabilise the agricultural sector.

The provincial government made the demand days after Sindh president of the Pakistan Peoples Party Nisar Khuhro demanded restoration of the Rice Export Corporation of Pakistan and fixing of paddy rates by the federal government.

JUI holds protest rally

Expressing solidarity with the framers and growers, a protest rally was held under the umbrella of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) in Larkana on Thursday to press the government for fixing reasonable support procurement price of paddy.

Moulana Nasir Mehmood Soomro, the district chief of the party, and others led the protest which originated from Jamia Islamia Ishaat-ul-Quran-ul-Hadeeth on Dudai Road.

After marching on main roads the protesters, carrying party flags, converged on Jinnah Bagh chowk.

Speaking on the occasion, party leaders said that the farmers and growers of Sindh were facing severe economic hardship due to unfair deductions, exploitation, and the government’s failure to provide fair prices for paddy crops. Moulana Nasir Soomro stated that the JUI was holding demonstrations across Sindh on the directives of JUI-F Sindh chapter to express solidarity with the growers.

He warned that if fair rates for wheat and rice were not fixed, the JUI-F would expand the spectrum of protest to the Chief Minister’s House and the Sindh Assembly.

He said 90 per cent of Sindh’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, yet for the past two years the government has deliberately reduced and destroyed the prices of paddy and wheat, pushing farmers towards ruin.

He said the market rate for wheat and rice is Rs2,200 per 40 kilogram, while the cost of production including fertilisers and inputs has skyrocketed, with fertiliser bags now costing Rs15,000 each. At this rate of Rs2,200 per 40 kg, even the basic expenses of farming cannot be met, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025