Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has abolished the five-bags-per-acre wheat supply restriction for registered small growers, allowing them to sell an unlimited quantity of grain to the government as part of the ongoing procurement drive.
The directive came during a review meeting, aiming to accelerate the acquisition campaign and ensure provincial targets are met, according information from the Chief Minister House today.
The Chief Minister, presiding over a high-level meeting, reviewed the province’s wheat procurement campaign for 2026. The meeting was attended by Minister Information Sharjeel Memon, Minister Food Makhdoom Mahboobuz Zaman, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Secretary Agriculture Zaman Narejo, Secretary Food Abbas Naich, senior officials, and representatives from Sindh Bank.
The procurement programme, which commenced on 1st April, targets one million metric tons of wheat at a support price of Rs3,500 per 40 kg. It aims to support over 332,000 farmers cultivating wheat on approximately 1.94 million acres across the province.
Minister for Food Makhdoom Mahboob Zaman informed the Chief Minister that only 8,958 metric tons had been procured so far against the overall target of 973,900 metric tons. He attributed the shortfall primarily to the previously imposed restriction of five bags per acre on small cultivators.
Taking immediate notice of the issue, Chief Minister Shah promptly removed the quantity limitation, enabling small farmers to supply their produce to the government without any constraint.
The meeting also heard that payments to farmers have been significantly expedited, with funds now being transferred within a single day through Sindh Bank. A sum of Rs198.3 million has already been disbursed among growers. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the improved payment mechanism, emphasising that “Timely payment is crucial for farmers’ trust. We must ensure that every grower is paid promptly and transparently.”
Mr Shah directed the district administration, agriculture, and food departments to further intensify the acquisition drive and ensure maximum participation from cultivators. He stressed that “All eligible farmers must be encouraged to bring their wheat to government procurement centres. This is essential not only for food security but also for supporting our growers.”
He also underlined that farmers selling their wheat to the government would retain eligibility for future subsidies and support programmes.
Assistant commissioners and mukhtiarkars are regularly visiting procurement centres, while agriculture officials are actively engaging farmers, the meeting was informed. A dedicated control room has been established for complaint redressal, and 12 additional wheat acquisition centres have been opened to facilitate growers.
The Chief Minister called for strict monitoring of these centres to ensure transparency and eliminate malpractices. “There should be zero tolerance for irregularities. The entire process must remain farmer-friendly and efficient,” he stated. He further urged close coordination among all departments to remove bottlenecks and enhance operational efficiency. He also issued directives for non-functional procurement centres to be made operational immediately and for logistical arrangements to be bolstered in districts experiencing low procurement.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment, the Chief Minister concluded that the wheat procurement campaign stands as a significant initiative to bolster farmers and ensure the province”s food security. “Our farmers are the backbone of our economy. We will continue to support them through fair pricing, timely payments, and effective procurement policies,” he affirmed.