Punjab govt fails to fix proposals on subsidy to small farmers

Lahore: The Punjab government could not decide on the proposals of giving subsidy to small farmers on wheat.

According to the media reports quoting Food department sources, only 120,000 farmers meet the Punjab government's wheat purchase policy and if subsidies are given to the farmers who meet the purchase policy, more than Rs5 billion will be spent.

It is also reported that the government is currently considering giving a subsidy of a few hundred rupees per maund to the farmers, but even giving the subsidy does not seem likely to end the farmers' protest.

According to food department, the Punjab government is ready to buy wheat with 10% moisture as per the policy, however, there is no wheat with 10% moisture in any district of Punjab and it is more than 16% due to rains.

The reports also told that the government has indicated the farmers to buy wheat for political point scoring, while the government has plenty of wheat for the next full year. Abundant wheat, moisture ratio and economic situation are obstacles in buying wheat.

On the other hand, farmers are also protesting for not buying wheat at the government level. Farmer leader Khalid Bath said that if the government does not buy wheat, the farmers will continue their protest.