Rice Farmers Hold Sit-In Protest Over Low Prices
Published on: October 23, 2023.
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Rice Farmers in Jacobabad Protest Against Low Paddy Prices
In a show of discontent, rice farmers in Garhi Khairo staged a protest sit-in on Sunday, expressing their dissatisfaction with the prices offered to them by traders. This protest resulted in long queues of vehicles at the border area between Sindh and Balochistan, as the farmers blocked the road.
According to the protesting farmer leaders, the Sindh government has fixed the price of paddy at Rs. 4,500 per maund, but traders are offering only Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 2,300 per maund for purchasing rice. The offered price falls significantly short of meeting the farmers’ production expenses, leading to their frustration.
The rise in rice prices over the past year has been unprecedented, with a staggering 90% increase. This can be attributed to the devastating floods that destroyed nearly 1.9 million tons or 80% of the expected crop production in Sindh. Rice, being the second most important staple, with an annual consumption of over 3.7 million tons, has faced significant challenges due to these floods and the escalating production costs at the farm and miller levels.
While the paddy prices have seen a sharp decline in Punjab, with the Basmati 1509 variety losing approximately Rs. 1,500 per maund in a month after the arrival of new crops from the South, the overall situation is expected to improve. The increase in cultivated area is anticipated to result in the second-largest rice production in Pakistan’s history, reaching 9 million tons.
Furthermore, the recent crackdown on smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan has also played a role in stabilizing prices, preventing any further rise in the coming month.
It is essential to address these issues and find a resolution that benefits both the farmers and traders. Stable and fair prices will promote a thriving rice industry in Pakistan, benefiting the entire country.
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