Anticipating a ‘normal’ Kharif season

Wheat crop’s per acre yields may face challenges in 2023. Wheat is a major Rabi crop and its sowing usually ends by November. Yet it was still being sown till the end of December, which may impact its yields. The Sindh government decided to provide certified seed and fertiliser to farmers since unusual rainfall coupled with a dysfunctional drainage system spelt disaster in the province’s right and left bank areas. Sindh’s ruling party draws its electoral strength, by and large, from rural areas. The government was mindful of the fact that 2023 is an election year and that’s why wheat’s support price increased from Rs2,200 to Rs4,000 for the new crop. But was not actualised because of a lack of necessary procedural requirements. Subsequently, the Sindh government decided to provide Rs5,000 an acre subsidy with whopping Rs13.5 billion expenditures for the purpose. Sindh government pitched in Rs8.39bn, and the federal government committed Rs4.7bn; disbursement was to begin at the start of the new year.