Bumper Production, Broken Profits: The Economic Crisis Facing Pakistan’s Potato Farmers
AssalamuAlaikum & Greetings Hive Family!
I am going to the crops while taking a morning walk. I have come out of the village streets. The sun is shining but the weather is cold because most of the day is foggy.
When I pass through my field, in another field, I see two farmers and they are busy talking to each other. They are talking to each other about the potato crop. Since this time the potato crop has been excellent and its production is also reasonable, but despite all this, the farmer is worried and this is what they are talking about.
Their topic is about trade through Afghanistan. Since the border has been closed and there are no buyers for potatoes. Because Pathans buy potatoes and sell them in the markets, the price of potatoes remains good. But this time, it is 300 rupees per bag, which weighs up to 65 kg. The cost of it when it reaches the market is 200 to 250 rupees. The production of potatoes in one acre is about 150 to 200 bags. And if we look at this calculation, the farmer is completely The farmers are in a loss and the expenses they have incurred on the potato crop are not being met.
Therefore, they are sitting between their two fields and are busy complaining to each other about this issue and are telling each other that this is the first time we have grown a potato crop and it has also gone into a loss. They are saying that the loss they have incurred from this crop will always be remembered by them because the curse that has come upon the crop is around two lakhs. If the land rent is also collected, it is around two hundred and seventy thousand. They have suffered a loss per acre, which is not possible to recover.
The government is also not interested in it and the farmers are not being heard anywhere. Some farmers are saying that their situation is that when they meet someone, they start crying because their savings were used to meet the expenses of this crop such as seeds, land preparation and irrigation etc. and now they have no investment left with which they can cultivate the next crop.
It is also that they are buried in debt and it is now difficult for them to get out of it. I request the government to think about this and provide relief to the farmers because the economy of our country depends on agriculture. If agriculture weakens, then the economy of country will also weaken and it is very important for us to keep it in balance.
Therefore, the government needs to pay special attention and role to this matter. If the farmers are prosperous, then the country will remain prosperous.
Amjad Sharif is an experienced farmer, educated agricultural expert, amateur gardener, and tourist person. He specializes in modern and natural ways of agriculture. He presents his experiences and highlights of rural life in a simple and informative manner on Hive.
Thank you!
Greetings @lvj
Farmers seem to face similar issues all around the world!