Multan – The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has sounded the alarm over a looming crisis in the agriculture sector, warning that current government policies are pushing farmers to the brink of economic ruin and threatening national food security.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, PKI President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said the sector had suffered losses of over Rs 2.2 trillion in just the past two years due to low support prices, unaffordable electricity rates, and the rising cost of inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and diesel.
“Farmers are being forced out of agriculture,” said Khokhar. “The current policies are unsustainable and will lead to the collapse of food production in Pakistan if immediate corrective measures are not taken.”
According to PKI estimates, wheat production dropped significantly in the last season, with farmers incurring losses of Rs 700 billion. Cotton growers, too, suffered massive setbacks due to price crashes and rising input costs.
Khokhar criticized the government’s Rs 15 billion support package as “cosmetic” and demanded:
- Minimum 25% return on investment for farmers
- Withdrawal of GST on agricultural inputs
- Electricity tariff reduced to Rs 10 per unit
- A national pricing mechanism to protect farmers from market volatility
He further urged the army chief to intervene, stating that agriculture is a matter of national security.
The PKI also warned that if their demands are not met, farmers may boycott wheat cultivation in the upcoming season—an act that could severely jeopardize the country’s food supply chain.
The statement comes amid broader concerns over Pakistan’s economic stability and declining agricultural output, with the sector growing at just 0.56% this year, down sharply from 6.25% in the previous fiscal cycle.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.