Wheat, sugarcane: KBP demands announcement of support prices

Business Recorder reported that the Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) wants the government to fix wheat support prices at Rs5,000 per 40kg and sugarcane prices at Rs700 per 40kg without delay. The demand was made at a press conference in Lahore by KBP Central President Sardar Zafar Hussain Khan, who warned of countrywide protests if prices were not fixed and set November 5 as a protest date.

According to the report, Khan argued that farming accounts for roughly 22 percent of GDP and sustains close to 60 percent of people, yet receives just 2 to 3 percent of budget allocations. He wants a minimum of 10 percent of national and provincial spending directed to farming, saying greater investment would cut input costs and bolster the economy. Khan also compared Pakistan with India, where support prices for 22 crops were announced, and blamed influential interest groups for delaying the wheat and sugarcane decision.

Khan further objected to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border closure, which he said has hurt farmers and traders on both sides, as well as urea restrictions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and high WAPDA electricity bills. He warned the board would join Hafiz Naeemur Rehman's long march with a 200-vehicle convoy, and said farmers may block roads including Mall Road in Lahore if prices are not announced.