Nabi Bux Sathio: A Dire Outlook for Sindh Agricultural Sector
Nabi Bux Sathio, Vice President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, expresses grave concern for the future of the farm sector. He predicts a bleak scenario for 2026 if current governmental approaches persist, leading to continued losses for farmers.
Market forces, coupled with nature’s unpredictability, consistently challenge growers. Bumper harvests, instead of benefiting farmers, often result in depressed prices due to exploitation by buyers and middlemen. This is detailed further on SindhNews.com.
Meanwhile, the cost of essential agricultural inputs continues an upward trajectory. This imbalance leaves farmers struggling to achieve profitability, a situation he believes worsened by governmental inaction.
Lack of Government Intervention
Sathio highlights the federal and provincial governments’ minimal intervention as regulatory bodies. Instead of safeguarding farmers, he suggests policies have inadvertently bolstered exploitative elements within the agricultural supply chain.
The failure to fix the price of sugarcane, despite legal mandates, exemplifies this issue. Similarly, wheat farmers experienced significant hardship with a 50% price reduction, a problem now extending to onions and tomatoes.
Financial Burdens on Farmers
Adding to these challenges, a 45% tax on agriculture income, alongside a 10% super tax, places unforeseen financial strain. Effectively equating the farm sector to industry without official recognition amplifies the crisis, as reported by SindhNews.com.
This substantial taxation may disincentivize farmers from investing in crucial inputs. The potential consequence is a reduction in crop yields, particularly grains, which could jeopardize national food security.