Sindh Government Pushes for Faster Wheat Procurement to Meet One Million Ton Goal

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed authorities to accelerate wheat procurement efforts after expressing dissatisfaction over the slow progress so far.

During a briefing, Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman revealed that only 8,958 tons of wheat had been collected across the province to date, prompting concern from the chief minister.

The provincial government has set an ambitious procurement target of one million tons, with a support price fixed at Rs3,500 per 40 kilograms to support growers.

The food minister highlighted that a restriction limiting small farmers to selling only five bags per acre had significantly contributed to the sluggish pace of procurement.

In response, the chief minister instructed officials to immediately lift this limitation to ensure smoother and faster procurement operations.

Officials also shared that more than 332,000 wheat farmers are involved in cultivation across approximately 1.94 million acres of land in Sindh.

Murad Ali Shah emphasized that small-scale farmers should be allowed to sell their produce to the government without any quantity restrictions, ensuring fair access for all.

The meeting was further informed that improvements have been made in the payment system, with farmers now receiving their dues within a single day through Sindh Bank.

So far, payments totaling Rs198.3 million have been disbursed to farmers, a development that drew appreciation from the chief minister.

He also encouraged farmers to bring their wheat harvest to government procurement centers, assuring them that those who participate will qualify for future subsidy programs.