KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the removal of the wheat supply cap for small growers, allowing them to sell unlimited quantities of grain to the government. This decision, made during a meeting to review the ongoing wheat procurement campaign for 2026, aims to enhance supply and support farmers by waiving the previous five-bags-per-acre restriction.

According to Chief Minister Sindh, the procurement campaign, which began on April 1, targets one million metric tons of wheat at a support price of Rs3,500 per 40 kg. The program involves over 332,000 farmers cultivating wheat across approximately 1.94 million acres in the province. Minister for Food Makhdoom Mahboob Zaman reported that 8,958 metric tons of wheat have been procured so far, with the previous restrictions cited as a reason for unmet targets. In response, the Chief Minister abolished the limit to encourage more sales from small farmers.

Payments to farmers have been expedited, with Rs198.3 million already disbursed through Sindh Bank. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of timely payment and urged the district administration and relevant departments to intensify the procurement drive to ensure maximum farmer participation. Additional procurement centers have been opened, and a control room established for complaint redressal, with strict monitoring to ensure transparency and eliminate malpractices.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting farmers through fair pricing, timely payments, and effective procurement policies, underscoring the significance of the campaign for both food security and economic support for growers in the province.