The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) has expressed disappointment over the government’s apparent disregard for the agricultural sector in the upcoming budget, stating that no consultations were held with farmers despite their critical economic challenges.
A meeting of the SAB, a farmers’ advocacy group, was held in Hyderabad on Thursday under the leadership of Mahmood Nawaz Shah. The board highlighted the urgent need for pre-budget discussions given the ongoing downturn in the agricultural economy.
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Farmers criticized the government’s selective approach to deregulation in the sector, arguing that it has allowed traders to exploit them while restricting free exports of agricultural produce. They emphasized that true deregulation should include unrestricted export opportunities, which are currently limited, putting farmers at a disadvantage.
“To compete globally, Pakistan’s agriculture must be strengthened with competitive policies,” the SAB stated. “International prices are often supported by heavy subsidies, as seen in India, whereas our farmers struggle due to inadequate infrastructure and high input costs.”
Key demands included the removal of the 18% General Sales Tax (GST) on locally produced cotton and duty-free cotton imports, as well as the elimination of GST on agricultural machinery, tractors, and implements. The board also called for subsidized credit, grants, and public-private partnerships to support the sector, which sustains millions of livelihoods.
The SAB noted that while India has converted 22% of its agricultural land to high-efficiency systems, Pakistan lags behind with less than 0.5% adoption.
