There’s an old saying: “He who missed the lesson did not get the holiday. He who worked hard was not rewarded.” This means that instead of being encouraged, hardworking people are often exploited. This is exactly what’s happening with the farmers of Pakistan today.
These farmers have worked tirelessly all year, using modern techniques and medicines to produce a record-breaking wheat crop. They deserve praise and rewards for their hard work. The nation should be celebrating their success. The government should be honoring them. But sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, their hard work is being turned into a crime.
Despite producing an extraordinary amount of wheat, farmers are facing huge problems. Millions of tons of wheat are lying in fields, unable to be sold or stored properly. The government promised to buy this wheat but hasn’t followed through. They’re not providing the storage facilities needed. The government’s delays and the exploitative behavior of the mills are forcing farmers to protest.
In the scorching summer heat, these farmers are homeless and protesting in the streets. Instead of addressing their concerns, the government is arresting them and throwing them in jail. It’s heartbreaking to see the proud farmers in such a miserable state. Their rightful demands are being ignored.
So, why is this happening? Let’s look at the background. This year, wheat production increased by 30 lakh tons compared to last year. The government promised to buy it at Rs 3900 per maund. But they haven’t kept their promise. Farmers can’t even sell their wheat for Rs 2900 per maund in the market. This rate doesn’t cover their production costs, leaving them in a dire situation.
The caretaker government is to blame. They decided to import wheat unnecessarily in October 2023, even though there was already an excess supply. Pakistan had 60 lakh tons of wheat in storage, yet they decided to import 3.6 million tons more from Ukraine.
The process of importing this wheat was suspiciously fast. On October 22, 2023, the cabinet approved the import, and the first ship arrived from Ukraine just seven days later. Normally, this process takes at least 20 days. It seems there was some foul play involved, as policy and decision-makers made a huge profit, around 85 billion rupees.
Now, Pakistan has too much wheat to handle: 6 million tons in storage, 3.6 million tons imported, and an additional 3 million tons produced this year. This has caused a drop in demand and a lack of storage facilities, leaving farmers unable to sell their wheat. The government is backing out of its promise to buy the wheat, putting farmers in a terrible position.
To address this issue, there needs to be a thorough investigation into the decision to import wheat and the suspiciously quick process that followed. Those responsible should be held accountable, and the money they made should be returned to the national treasury. The government should buy the wheat from farmers at a fair price and arrange proper storage facilities.
All stakeholders must resolve this issue quickly. If not, the situation could worsen Pakistan’s political, economic, and security conditions. It’s crucial to support the hardworking farmers and ensure their efforts are not in vain.