ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has recommended the federal government to fix the minimum support price of wheat at Rs5,000 per 40kg or above for the 2026-27 Rabi season, and called for a uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across the country.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, also urged the government to finalise the national wheat policy covering the 2026-30 period before the commencement of the wheat sowing season, observing that decisions taken after the sowing season would have little practical value for farmers.

The committee asked the Ministry of National Food Security to ensure timely decisions on the minimum support price and uniform subsidy programme for all farmers across the country.

It also directed the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to brief the committee on its progress since 2024 and submit the required rules and regulations.

The committee expressed concern over the major challenges facing the agriculture sector, including rising input costs, inadequate mechanisation, poor-quality seeds, insufficient agricultural research, limited subsidies, inadequate storage facilities, weak export performance and the absence of uniform and timely agriculturalpolicies.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain briefed the committee on last year`s interim wheat policy, the proposed National Wheat Policy 2026-2030 and various subsidy models under consideration. He said consultations with all provincial governments would be held within a week to finalise the policy and that it would be announced before the sowing season.

The committee emphasised the need for a uniform subsidy programme across the country, noting differences in provincial approaches. It was informed that Punjab was considering support through the `Kissan Card`, Sindh was providing assistance to farmers having up to 25 acres, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be providing an in-kind subsidy of Rs5,000.

The committee called for a simple and accessible mechanism that benefits farmers across the country.

Rana Tanveer urged the committee members to engage with their respective provincial governments and encourage their participation in the national wheat policy.

The committee emphasised that agriculture is a key pillar of the national economy and called for coordinated measures to improve farmers` profitability and agriculturalproductivity.

The committee members also raised concerns about the availability of storage and marketing arrangements after the closure of Passco, noting that farmers would have limited alternatives for storing and marketing their wheat. They observed that private storage facilities often demand advance payments, creating additional financial pressure on farmers.

The members also highlighted the high cost of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs and called for measures to reduce production costs and ensure the timely availability of inputs.

The standing committee also discussed rice exports and was informed that a good rice crop was expected this year. It called for enhanced efforts to expand export markets and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products.