Wheat woes

The skyrocketing prices of flour and the lengthy lines for subsidized wheat in recent months paints a worrying picture. The fault appears to lie with an error in policy involving wheat imports. Devastating floods in 2022 caused shortages of wheat, which prompted decisions to import. But because of the volume of these imports and the lack of a thorough assessment of domestic stocks and a bumper wheat crop, the market was oversupplied. Due to the abundance of imported wheat, prices fell well below the minimum support price set by the government. Envision a farmer in Punjab, the breadbasket of Pakistan, witnessing their harvest remain unsold due to an oversupply of less expensive imports. They suffered significant losses.

It is critical to have a strong system in place for import planning and market forecasting and to restructure the procurement system to guarantee effective and prompt acquisitions from domestic manufacturers. Improving farmer education and infrastructure can also help raise agricultural output and market accessibility. The wheat crisis in Pakistan is a sobering lesson. Making educated policy decisions and giving local production top priority are essential for a robust and sustainable food system.

Muhammad Shoaib Kaleem

Islamabad