KARACHI (The Thursday Times) — The Sindh government will pay Rs17 billion in subsidies to wheat growers this Rabi season, with payouts due to start on November 20, the province’s agriculture minister said on Wednesday.
Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar said about 550,000 farmers would receive support under the Sindh Wheat Growers Support Programme, which will be paid through the Benazir Hari Card, the province’s card for registered growers.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will inaugurate the payouts at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi on November 20, Mahar said. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers, members of the Sindh Assembly, and party leaders are also due to attend.
Mahar was chairing a meeting in Karachi on preparations for the launch, the registration of farmers, and the payment of the subsidy, according to a statement from the provincial government. Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Zaman Narejo briefed the meeting on how farmers are being registered and on arrangements for the event.
Officials did not give a per-farmer figure. Spread evenly, Rs17 billion across 550,000 growers would come to about Rs31,000 each.
Wheat is Pakistan’s main Rabi crop, sown from late October into December and harvested in the spring. Sindh, where the harvest starts earliest, is usually the first province to bring new wheat to market.
The Thursday Times earlier looked at why imported wheat has not brought down the price of roti.
