Punjab government has left wheat growers at the mercy of middlemen as farmers are running from pillar to post to acquire gunny sacks from the provincial food department officials, Pakistan Today has learnt during a visit conducted to the Jamal Deen Wali wheat procurement centre in district Rahim Yar Khan on Wednesday.
Dozens of farmers awaiting the provision of badly sought gunny bags complained that their wheat crops were ready to harvest, but lying under the open sky owing to the lack of availability of gunny bags. Farmers also registered their protest against the cumbersome procedures adopted by the provincial Food Department for obtaining gunny bags. Farmers alleged that the Food Department officials were issuing scarce gunny bags to influential individuals, especially to growers having an association with the ruling political party.
They said that poor growers or small landholders were being ignored by the provincial Food Department during the wheat procurement campaign. They pointed out that the Punjab government had reduced wheat procurement target to 80,000 metric tonnes from 120,000 metric tonnes of the previous year, while 20 more villages were also under the purview of the procurement centre of Jamal Deen Wali, which had created an acute shortage of gunny bags.
Farmers, including Muhammad Murad, Shah Dost and others underscored that they were visiting Jamal Deen Wali procurement centre for the last seven days, but had not been able to get the packing materials. Food Department officials were using delaying tactics in issuing gunny bags by raising objections in documentation. They highlighted that it was a burdensome procedure, as Food Department officials demand multiple verifications for different government officials, including Tahsildar, Naib Tahisaldar and Patwari for issuance of gunny bags.
A farmer told Pakistan Today that growers were compelled to sell their wheat crop to middlemen at Rs 800 to Rs 830 per maund, as Food Department were denying issuance of gunny bags to small farmers. Farmers showed concern that their wheat produce was exposed to the elements, which might damage the crop. They also indicated that as fields were already occupied they were unable to prepare fields for the next crop.
Punjab Food Department officials deputed at Jamal Deen Wali procurement centre also confirmed that there was an acute shortage verging on 50 percent owing to downward revision of buying target. They expressed their inability to facilitate all growers with curtailed procurement target and limited supply of gunny bags. Speaking to Pakistan Today, Procurement Centre In-Charge Aftab Butt said that earlier the procurement centre was catering only to Jamal Din Wali area but this year the Food Department had also included the jurisdiction of the village of Bangla. He pointed out that initially they were directed to issue 4,600 gunny bags per day, but now the issuance limit had come down to 2,600 bags per day.
But due to an increase in area and number of farmers, this quantity was insufficient to meet those gathered outside the procurement center intending to sell their produce at official support price of Rs 950 per maund. He indicated that 2,600 bags could only be given to 13 farmers per day, which resulted in that the rest of the farmers forced to leave empty handed, raising a hue and cry against the provincial government and the food department. According to his estimate, the issuance of 6,000 gunny bags per day can meet the requirement of both procurement officials and growers as both the area and number of growers has increased this year.
The shortage of gunny bags is not unique to Jamal Deen Wali as similar complaints are streaming in from across the province. The situation is mirrored elsewhere with the lack of packing materials a major headache for farmers as they seek to preserve their crop.
Wheat growers driven into arms of middlemen
