LARKANA: As the wheat harvest reaches its peak across Sindh, farmers and cultivators are spiraling into a deepening financial crisis. Burdened by soaring input costs and a failing government procurement system, agricultural leaders warn that the backbone of the province’s economy is on the brink of collapse.
Irfan Khan Jatoi, president of the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) Larkana, stated on Wednesday that while the cost of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and machinery has risen sharply, farmers have been unable to recover fair prices for two consecutive years.
Mr. Jatoi alleged that wheat prices — which previously ranged between Rs4,000 and Rs4,800 per 40 kg — are being deliberately suppressed through collusion between traders and certain government officials. This allows middlemen to purchase grain cheaply before prices are artificially inflated once the commodity reaches the open market.
“Last year, the federal and Punjab governments declined to procure wheat, citing the IMF conditions,” Jatoi noted. “This forced desperate farmers to sell for as low as Rs2,000 per 40 kg, well below the cost of production. Within two months, that same wheat was trading at over Rs4,000.”
Procurement delays in Sindh
Despite the federal government announcing a support price of Rs 3,500 per 40 kg for the current season, Sindh’s procurement—originally scheduled for March 15—has yet to begin. Jatoi claimed this delay is a calculated move to allow traders to acquire the harvest at sub-market rates. Currently, wheat in Sindh is reportedly being traded at nearly Rs 1,000 below the official support price.
A ‘humanitarian concern’
Echoing these sentiments, Sairajul Oliya Rashdi, president of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) Larkana Division, described the situation as an “economic exploitation” and a “humanitarian concern”.
He highlighted that the cost of production has reached Rs3,200 to Rs4,000 per 40 kg due to a lack of subsidies, yet the market currently offers less than Rs3,000.
“Farmers have not failed to work hard, but they cannot overcome adverse weather and skyrocketing input costs without support,” Rashdi said. He warned that if the government does not immediately establish procurement centers and ensure fair pricing, the consequences for national food security will be severe.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026