NOWSHEHRA: The massive increase in diesel prices has started to show its severe effects on the farmers and cultivators of Nowshera.
Due to the continuous inflation and high cost of diesel, local farmers say they can no longer afford to run tractors to prepare their agricultural lands. As a result, many farmers have reverted to traditional methods and have started using bullocks to plow their fields.
Farmers said that the cost of plowing one acre with a tractor has doubled in recent months, while the prices of their crops remain the same. This has made farming unprofitable.
They demanded that the government should provide subsidized diesel or reduce the prices for the agriculture sector, otherwise the agricultural yield of the district will be badly affected.
The record increase in diesel and petrol prices has directly hit the backbone of the country – the farmers and cultivators.
In various villages of Nowshera including Pabbi, Akbarpura and Rashakai, farmers have abandoned tractors and have started preparing their lands with the help of bullocks.
Frarmer Haji Rehman said, “One hour of tractor used to cost Rs. 2000, now it costs Rs. 4500. How can a poor farmer afford it? We have no other option but to use our bulls.”
Another farmer said that not only diesel, but prices of seeds, fertilizers (DAP, Urea) and pesticides have also tripled in one year, while the support price for wheat and maize has not increased.
Agriculture experts warn that if this trend continues, the cultivation area will decrease and it will lead to a food security issue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The farmers have appealed to the KP Government and Federal Government to take immediate notice of the situation.
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