–Farmers remain empty handed as cutting season almost over in Southern districtsPESHAWAR: Shortage of labour due to the coronavirus pandemic, rain and locust attacks are creating problems for farmers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) who are ready to harvest this year’s wheat crop. Farmers said that the local labour that was earlier available at Rs500 per day have now increased their daily wage to Rs1,500 which poor farmers cannot afford. Moreover, despite the commencement of wheat harvest season, especially in Southern districts of the province, no SOPs have been issued by the provincial government to rein in the coronavirus, which could spread during wheat harvesting and threshing season. Shahabullah, another wheat grower, said that most of the farmers in KP grow wheat for their own food requirement. He said that most farmers are now harvesting at nights to avoid the police and district administration officials.

Source: Pakistan Today April 27, 2020 17:15 UTC