Quoting official data for January-June 2025, the news flashed on the print media, stating that Pakistani farmers endured collective losses of over Rs1.26 trillion. Ironically, like all losses in the public and private sector, this loss may well pass through as another loss — unattended and unaddressed.

What’s makes the loss to farmers different is that it has consequences on the food security of the people. It cannot be allowed to pass unattended. The subject needs to be escalated for wider public awareness and its emerging consequences.

The most significant blows came from rice and maize, together accounting for a staggering Rs1 trillion in damages. Export figures paint an equally grim picture – a drop of over USD 1 billion in total agro-export value compared to the same period in 2024. Among export volumes of major crops, maize fell by 70 percent, banana by 69 percent, mango by 40 percent, and onion and garlic by 31 each.

The reasons cited for this catastrophe are:

government’s apathy, flawed policies and unchecked input costs. All this put together is pushing the farming sector towards uncertainty, if not........

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