The provincial government has set a wheat procurement target of three million tonnes for the 2025–26 season. Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani, while chairing a key meeting with stakeholders, assured that the system is in place and procurement will begin from April 15. He stressed that all centres would be fully operational, aiming to make the process smooth and farmer friendly.
Yet, beneath these official promises lies a growing sense of unease. Farmers argue that the numbers simply don’t add up. According to representatives of growers’ groups, the average cost of producing wheat has climbed to around Rs4,750 per maund.
In contrast, market prices have slipped to nearly Rs3,300 per maund a gap that feels less like a margin and more like a setback. ‘It’s not just about profit anymore; it’s about survival,’ said one farmer leader, reflecting a sentiment shared across rural communities.
The government, however, paints a more hopeful picture. Officials suggest that this year’s crop is likely to be a bumper one, thanks to favorable weather and improved guidance to farmers. Technical support and advisory services have been provided throughout the growing season to ensure better yield and crop safety.
Still, for many farmers, a good harvest without fair pricing feels like a hollow victory. Adding to their concerns is the rising cost of farming inputs from fuel to labour which has quietly eaten into their already thin margins.
The decision not to fix harvester rental rates has further left farmers exposed to market fluctuations, making planning even harder.
What emerges is a familiar but troubling pattern: abundance in fields, but anxiety in homes. As Punjab prepares to begin procurement, the coming weeks will test whether policy and practice can move in step. For now, farmers wait hopeful, yet wary watching both the skies and the markets, knowing that their future hangs in the balance.
