SAHIWAL: The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has announced a series of district-wise protests across Punjab against what it calls the provincial government`s anti-farmer policies, including its failure to set a wheat support price, deregulation of the wheat market and the lack of a procurement target for the upcoming season.

PKI Central President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar and Punjab President Chaudhry Rizwan demanded the Punjab government immediately fix the wheat support price at Rs4,000 per 40kg.

The protest campaign will begin in Multan on April 14 and move to Pakpattan on April 16.

Mr said, `If the government wants to deregulate wheat procurement and let market forces decide the price, it should also stop fixing the prices of flour and roti.

`It is sheer hypocrisy. Farmers are denieda fair price, yet flour mills and consumers are still protected by price controls.

He added if the government allows unrestricted movement of wheat between districts and provinces, it should not control downstream prices unless it is willing to fairly compensate farmers.

Mr Rizwan said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had disappointed farmers despite her encouragement of wheat cultivation last year with the promise of better returns.

`But wheat is now being sold in the open market at Rs2,200 to Rs2,300 per 40 kg, far below the actual cost of production,` he said.

`The government`s own data shows that it costs Rs3,400 to produce 40kg of wheat. How are farmers expected to sell at a loss?` In such a scenario, he added, farmers would be better off growing wheat only for household needs instead of contributing to national food security.

Khokhar also slammed the government`sagriculture loan scheme, which selects beneficiaries through lucky draws.

`Soft loans must be given directly to all registered farmers via CNICs, not by lottery,` he said.

`Providing subsidies on tractors, fertilisers, seeds and solar panels to 100,000 farmers is a drop in the ocean. Real reform means extending such support to all 8 million registered growers in Punjab.

Meanwhile, another farmers` group Kisan Ittehad (R), led by Khalid Hussain Bath also announced protests beginning April 15, in alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Speaking to Dawn from Bahawalnagar, Bath said farmers and Jamaat-i-Islami workers would hold rallies and block key roads across Punjab.

The alliance has issued three key demands: the wheat support price must be set at Rs4,000 per 40kg, outstanding dues from sugar mills must be cleared, and electricity bills for farmers must be rationalised.