ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said the government should take note of the plight of wheat growers.

“Discouraging the wheat growers will result in reduced production of the staple which is against the interests of farming community,” he said.

Hussain added the growers across the country were facing difficulties in getting gunny bags to sell their produce, while their problems would increase during the holy month of Ramadan.

He said the agriculture sector’s output nosedived due to apathy of the authorities, as the growers had to wait for gunny bags for days while they could not sell wheat without pleasing some of the officials.

“The situation has favoured the middlemen, who have started buying wheat at reduced rates, which is exploitation,” he said, and added, “Growers of different crops have braved losses to the tune of Rs250 billion in the current fiscal year while meaningful steps haven’t been taken yet to address the situation,” he observed.

He asked the government to bring more crops in the support price net and establish an independent commission for the growers to ensure their welfare.

“Recommendations of the growers should be included in the budget making exercise to save the sector from showing negative growth,” he demanded.