Farmers protest low rice prices – Pipa News
Published on: October 24, 2023.
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Farmers Protest Low Rice Prices in Pakistan
Amidst ongoing protests, farmers in the border area between Sindh and Balochistan are expressing their discontent with the low price of rice. These protests have caused extensive roadblocks and long queues of vehicles in the region. According to the farmer leaders, while the Sindh government has fixed the price of paddy at Rs 4,500 per maund, traders are only offering them Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,300 per maund for their rice.
The farmers argue that the prices offered by the traders do not even cover their production costs. Last year, the devastating floods resulted in a staggering 90 percent increase in rice prices, causing a loss of nearly 1.9 million tonnes or 80 percent of the expected crop yield in Sindh alone. Rice is the second largest food crop in Pakistan, with an annual consumption of over 3.7 million tons. In addition to the flood situation, the rising cost of production at both the farm and miller levels has also contributed to the increase in rice prices.
In several districts of Punjab, rice prices in the grain markets have fallen by Rs 10 to Rs 5,300 per maund. Despite this, Pakistan is on track to achieve its second-highest rice production in history, reaching 9 million tonnes due to an increase in cultivated area. Recent crackdowns on smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan have also played a significant role in preventing prices from further increasing before the start of the next month.
The farmers are demanding fair prices for their produce to cover production costs and mitigate their losses. They are calling for the government to intervene and ensure that traders offer reasonable rates for their rice. The protests are expected to continue until a satisfactory resolution is reached.
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Source: [pipanews.com](https://pipanews.com)
