Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday reviewed the ongoing wheat procurement campaign for 2026, and allowed small growers registered under the scheme to supply as much grain as they wish by waiving the five-bags-per-acre limit.
During a meeting he chaired at the CM House, Shah directed the food department to accelerate procurement, ensure immediate payments to farmers, and strengthen field-level outreach to meet the provincial target.
The meeting was informed that the wheat procurement campaign began on April 1, with a target of one million tonnes at a support price of Rs3,500 per 40kg. The programme covers over 332,000 farmers cultivating wheat on approximately 1.94 million acres across the province.
Food Minister Makhdoom Mahboob Zaman said that approximately 8,958 tonnes of wheat has been procured against the overall target of 973,900 tonnes. Responding to a query, he said the procurement target could not be achieved primarily due to the restriction of five bags per acre imposed on small growers.
Shah immediately abolished the limit of five bags per acre, and allowed small farmers to sell their wheat to the government without any quantity restriction. The meeting was told that payments to farmers have been significantly expedited, with funds now being transferred within a day through the Sindh Bank, with Rs198.3 million having been disbursed among growers.
The CM expressed satisfaction over the improved payment mechanism. “Timely payment is crucial for farmers’ trust. We must ensure that every grower is paid promptly and transparently.”
Shah directed the district administration, and the agriculture and food departments to intensify the procurement drive, and ensure maximum participation of farmers. “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.”
The CM pointed out that the farmers who sell wheat to the government would continue to remain eligible for future subsidies as well as support programmes. The meeting was informed that assistant commissioners and mukhtiarkars are regularly visiting procurement centres, while agriculture officials are actively engaging farmers. A control room has also been established for complaint redressal, and 12 additional wheat procurement centres have been opened to facilitate growers.
Shah ordered strict monitoring of the procurement centres to ensure transparency and eliminate any malpractices. “There should be zero tolerance for irregularities. The entire process must remain farmer-friendly and efficient.”
He stressed close coordination among all departments to remove bottlenecks and improve operational efficiency. He also ordered that non-functional procurement centres be made operational immediately, and logistical arrangements be strengthened in districts with low procurement.
The CM said the wheat procurement campaign is a major initiative to support farmers and ensure food security in the province. “Our farmers are the backbone of our economy. We will continue to support them through fair pricing, timely payments and effective procurement policies.”
