Following the slow procurement due to malpractice in distribution of empty gunny bags by procurement officials, wheat prices recorded a decline of Rs 30 per 40 kg, quoted at open market at Rs 370 per 40 kg against the state fixed support price of Rs 400 per 40 kg. This is causing unrest among the wheat growers who fear further decline. With the commencement of wheat harvest last month, Sindh Food Department had launched a wheat procurement campaign to procure 0.5 million tons wheat in view of fairly good crop.
But due to poor infrastructure and logistic support and growing malpractices in distribution of empty gunny bags the procurement campaign has remained in low key and, at some places, the procurement campaign was reported to have stopped for want of empty gunny bags.
Sindh Abadgar Board in a letter to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed concern over the fall in wheat prices apprehending that it would compromise the initiative offered by the government to wheat growers by enhancing wheat piece by Rs 50 per 40 kg to improve the rural economy.
It alleged that the food department has stopped procurement in some wheat growing areas, and offered its services to identify these areas, if needed. It said that the poor performance of food department was plagued with ineptness and corruption; the middleman and traders have entered the market and are purchasing wheat at lower price which they might sell at higher price by the end of the cropping season.
It demanded that the government should immediately ensure availability of empty gunny bags in wheat growing areas and also increase the target to 0.8 million tons in the province to build up its own strategic reserve which would help in minimising incidental charges.
The Board said that harvesting has gained momentum and is expected to end in the next 25 days. If the situation is not improved the wheat would end up with the middlemen and hoarders, and prices of wheat and wheat flour would continue to maintain high profile and the rural economy would be adversely affected.
Provincial Director Food Tanveer Qureshi when contacted told Business Recorder that till date almost 0.3 million tons wheat has been procured by the Department and procurement was continuing.
He conceded that there was shortage of gunny bags and said that finance department has already been approached and other steps such as use of once used gunny bags were allowed for procurement.
He said that in view of wheat crop the Advisor to Sindh Government for Food and Agriculture would take up the matter with Sindh Chief Minister to enhance wheat procurement target.
A wheat grower of Matiari alleged that the food department is purchasing from middlemen instead of genuine growers. He said an enquiry if instituted against the distribution of empty gunny bags and advancement of amount to genuine and non-genuine growers would reveal the corruption of highest order.