RAWALPINDI: The harvest of wheat crop is helping daily wagers get jobs as reapers. Wheat harvesting is on its peak in the areas including Rawat, Kallar Syedan, Kahuta, Sagri, Raqqa, Chak Beli Khan, Fatehjang, Tarnol, Golra, Gujar Khan, Shah Allah Ditta and Chatta Bakhtawar.

Small farmers are hiring daily wagers as they are unable to afford mechanical reapers because of high diesel prices.

Dependent on rains for cultivation of cash crops like wheat, the Potohar region this year is blessed with exceptionally better crop. Vast acres are brimming with the golden wheat crop due to timely rains. As landowners are eyeing a bumper yield, daily wagers are getting jobs at farms as reapers. They are getting a share out of the reaped crop.

Women of poor families are also engaged as daily wagers. They are also provided a "pick and drop service" in tractor trolleys.

Soaring diesel prices are making it difficult for farmers to hire reaping machines. They have to pay Rs1,200 to Rs1,500 per hour for hiring a reaping machine. Reapers are charging Rs.500 per kanal for harvesting wheat along with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Unlike the past when villagers were always ready to help and assist each other for reaping and harvesting the crop on rotational basis, now farmers are on their own at this important time of the year.