Pakistan Needs Urgent Wheat Imports to Avert Food Crisis

Chairman of Pakistan National Business Group Mian Zahid Hussain said that urgent import of wheat may be required to save the country from food crisis, Business Recorder reported.

Mian Zahid Hussain stressed that along with imports, a government operation should be launched against hoarders and speculators across the country. Without such intervention, the situation will only worsen.

He said that in many areas, farmers are choosing to grow other crops instead of wheat due to the lack of minimum support prices. As a result, the area under wheat is decreasing, which is affecting the yield. Wheat cultivation is also difficult in many areas due to poor rainfall. If immediate steps are not taken to address this alarming situation, a serious food crisis may ensue, warns Mian Zahid Hussain.

Pakistan, once a wheat exporting country, has become a net importer of wheat since the 2020/21 season. According to the Chairman of the National Business Group of Pakistan, unnecessary government intervention in the wheat market, speculation, water shortage, climate change, poor quality agricultural chemicals, expensive fertilizers, poor quality seeds and lack of access to credit for farmers are the root causes. All these are hurting the production of all crops, including wheat, he said. Wheat smuggling and artificial shortages are also adding to the problems, while the needs of the growing population of the country are constantly increasing.

Furthermore, due to lack of education and training, farmers are farming in outdated ways, leading to increased water wastage. At the same time, production is low, said Mian Zahid Hussain.

Urgent imports are essential to avert a crisis, maintain stable prices and ensure food security, said Mian Zahid Hussain. In addition, wheat should be provided to the poorest sections of the population in the form of subsidies to ease their financial problems.

He said that last year due to good harvest, the market prices of wheat stabilized and the problems of the common consumer were reduced to a large extent, but now the situation is changing.

Pakistan’s wheat production is expected to be 27.9 million tonnes this year, down 11% from last year. In these circumstances, the government should consider purchasing wheat on a large scale from local farmers. If the government does not purchase wheat from farmers this year in the same volume as last year, the food security situation may worsen. Mian Zahid Hussain also said that the federal and provincial governments should take immediate steps to save the country from economic and political instability and ensure wheat supply across the country.

Tags: imports, Pakistan, wheat