The Sindh provincial administration has officially greenlit its wheat procurement strategy for the current season, setting a target to collect one million metric tons of the staple grain starting April 1, 2026. In alignment with federal policy directives, the provincial cabinet sub-committee has fixed the support price at 3,500 rupees per 40 kilograms. This decision, finalized by a high-level committee including Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboub-uz-Zaman and Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, is designed to provide a predictable income for the agricultural community while ensuring national food reserves remain robust during a period of global commodity fluctuations.
A significant shift in this year’s procurement model is the integration of the Hari Card system, which aims to bring unprecedented transparency to the process. Approximately 330,000 registered farmers are expected to benefit from this digital initiative, which facilitates direct payments into their Sindh Bank accounts. By bypassing middle-men and traditional bureaucratic hurdles, the government intends to ensure that the financial benefits reach genuine growers. Furthermore, in a logistical departure from previous years, farmers will now provide their own bardana or gunny bags. To compensate for this, the government has introduced an incentive of 60 rupees per bag, which will also be credited directly to the farmers’ verified accounts to simplify the supply chain.
Addressing concerns over market stability, the Sindh government highlighted that it has already deployed 84 billion rupees in subsidies to keep wheat prices stable and ensure that flour remains affordable for the general public, particularly during the high-demand period of Ramazan. To safeguard these public funds, the administration has enforced strict accountability measures against administrative irregularities. Investigations into the food department have already led to show-cause notices for 43 officers, the suspension of 22 individuals, and the dismissal of nine others, with several cases referred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment to maintain the integrity of the procurement drive.
During the policy announcement, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro addressed previous allegations regarding stock mismanagement, clarifying that such claims were unfounded. He explained that a portion of the wheat procured by Sindh is stored in specialized warehouses in Punjab for strategic and logistical reasons, allowing for a more efficient release of stocks to meet public demand when needed. Currently, the province maintains a reserve of 200,000 metric tons. Given that Sindh produces roughly 4.3 million tons of wheat annually, the government’s procurement policy is specifically designed to prioritize small-scale growers who have previously benefited from fertilizer subsidies, ensuring they have a guaranteed buyer for their harvest.
To further modernize the agricultural landscape, Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla noted that the Hari Card initiative—which was initially launched to provide subsidized inputs—is now being expanded to manage the entire procurement lifecycle. A new dedicated digital portal, managed jointly by the food and agriculture departments, will be launched to track procurement data in real-time. This tech-driven approach is expected to enhance transparency and provide the government with accurate data to manage the provincial wheat supply chain. By supporting local farmers through fair pricing and digital efficiency, the Sindh government aims to secure long-term food availability and price stability across the province.
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