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What is being seen and reported in the news regarding farmers’ protests in Punjab is a crisis of great magnitude on account of its potential repercussions on socio-political stability. At the heart of this “wheat crisis” stands the decision taken by the Pakistani Government to reduce the quota for wheat procurement from the farming community.
The “wheat crisis” has been part of the national headlines for a few months now with locals protesting in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Considering these widespread episodic protests regarding the wheat subsidy in AJK and GB, another protracted controversy over this delicate issue would not be in the favor of the nation or the government.
In hybrid economies such as Pakistan’s, government intervention in the market through centralized wheat procurement processes serves a two-pronged purpose. First, it ensures that the national demand for the crop is met efficiently. Second, farmers are protected from the downsides of the free market. Thus, wheat procurement by the government is a mechanism for price stabilization.
Interestingly, the farmers’ agitation against unfair state policies is not restricted to Pakistan only. For instance, farmers in India also staged massive demonstrations, that descended into violence, against a “farm law” just two years ago. They objected to a new law that left them at the “mercy of corporations” in the bid to secure profitable prices for their produce.
Agriculture is the lifeblood of Pakistan—it employs around 37% of labor, sustains the country’s populace, and fuels its economic engine. Without ensuring a flourishing agricultural sector, food security is a distant daydream. Furthermore, agriculture is intertwined with the livelihood of millions of small-scale farmers in Pakistan who comprise most of the rural population.
Wheat is also an important staple crop and an indispensable component of the........