Save the wheat, save the nation

August 26, 2026

The country may be heading towards another wheat crisis, and the warning should not be taken lightly. The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad says the country could face a shortage of up to three million tons of wheat next year. If that happens, the government may have to spend around $1.2 billion on imports. At a time when the country is already struggling to protect its foreign exchange reserves, this would be a painful and avoidable burden.

The solution, however, is not complicated: the government must make farming profitable again.

For the last several years, farmers have faced uncertainty about wheat prices and government procurement. At the same time, the cost of diesel, electricity, seeds and fertilizers has continued to rise. A farmer cannot be expected to invest money, time and effort in a crop when he does not know whether he will receive a fair price for it after harvest.

The government must announce a clear wheat policy before the Rabi sowing season. Farmers need time to decide which crops to grow and how much land to allocate to wheat. Uncertainty at this stage can encourage them to move towards other crops, reducing wheat production and creating shortages later.

The farmers’ demand for a support price of Rs4,702 per 40 kilograms deserves serious consideration. Whether the government accepts this exact figure or proposes another workable mechanism, the basic principle must remain clear: farmers should receive a fair return on their investment.

A country cannot expect food security while treating the people who produce its food as an afterthought.

The nation has repeatedly fallen into a damaging cycle. When local production falls, the country imports wheat at high international prices. Billions of dollars leave the country, while local farmers lose confidence in government policies. This cycle must end.

Instead of spending precious foreign exchange on imported wheat, Pakistan should invest in its own farmers. A stable procurement policy, reasonable prices and timely payments can encourage growers to increase production.

The government should also look carefully at the demand for a broader fertilizer subsidy policy. Farmers use different types of fertilizers depending on their land and crop requirements. Support should be designed in a way that benefits farmers rather than creating distortions in the market.