Hyderabad: Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry President Muhammad Saleem Memon has urged Sindh government to formulate a comprehensive, transparent and long-term policy regarding wheat in the province, through which the interests of farmers can be protected, flour can be supplied to consumers at reasonable prices, effective monitoring of wheat reserves and food security can be ensured.
He has said that as wheat is the basic food requirement of the country and a strategic agricultural commodity, therefore, it is the need of the hour to develop its procurement, storage, transportation and distribution system on modern lines.
He said that the Hyderabad Chamber had earlier also made suggestions regarding the involvement of the private sector in the wheat procurement process, modern storage system, digital inventory management and transparent procedures, however, in the current circumstances, the importance of these reforms has increased further.
The Chamber President said that the biggest need in the current wheat system is complete transparency and availability of accurate data. For this purpose, a digital wheat tracking and stock monitoring system should be introduced in the province, through which government warehouses, flour mills’ stocks, registered private warehouses, purchase data and wheat movement can be linked to a central digital system.
He said that through the modern digital system, the government will be able to know the status of wheat stocks in real time, artificial shortages, illegal hoarding and irregularities in the market will be identified in time, while better decisions can be made for the supply of wheat.
He added that the government should involve the private sector in the wheat procurement and storage process under a regular policy.
By including licensed private purchasing agencies, banks, Islamic financial institutions, warehousing companies, commodity markets, flour mills and the logistics sector under a structured system, not only will the financial pressure on the government be reduced but the wheat procurement, storage and delivery system will also be more efficient.
HCSTSI President Saleem Memon also stressed that farmers should be provided with timely wheat procurement facility, reasonable price and instant digital payment system so that farmers get economic security and they can continue their role in agricultural production in the future.
The government should adopt a balanced policy that includes both effective action against lawless elements and protection of legitimate business activities.
He said that an incentive policy should be introduced in Sindh for the promotion of modern agricultural storage facilities, silos, scientific warehousing and warehouse receipt financing system to reduce post-harvest losses of wheat, ensure market stability and long-term food security.
He suggested that a permanent stakeholders coordination committee be established for wheat matters, which would include representatives of the Sindh Food Department, Agriculture Department, Flour Mills Association, Chambers of Commerce, farmer representatives, banking sector, storage and logistics sector.
This committee should regularly review wheat production, demand, reserves, market situation and future needs so that steps can be taken before any possible crisis.
He said that the wheat issue is not limited to procurement alone but is a matter related to the entire supply chain, storage, market management and consumer interests.
Farmers, traders, industrialists and consumers are part of the same economic system, hence there is a need for a policy that balances the interests of all stakeholders.
The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry has appealed to the Sindh government to include the business community and relevant stakeholders in the formulation of the wheat policy so that an effective, transparent and sustainable system can be created that meets the food needs of the province as well as plays a role in economic stability.
