Recent wheat price fixation will support farmers: minister

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government’s wheat support price of Rs4,500 per 40 kilograms is intended to help farmers and encourage domestic production, Business Recorder reported. He called the rate a balanced measure and said farmers had faced higher costs for electricity, fertiliser, seeds and other inputs over the past two years.

Hussain said better returns could encourage farmers to grow more wheat and invest in agricultural inputs, with the possibility of a surplus next season. He also said provincial administrations had been asked to monitor supplies and prices, while the government seeks more reliable agricultural data to guide planning on crops, production and food security.