Concerns among farmers and experts have increased since the government announced the guaranteed purchase price of IRR22000 for wheat for next year, as the low guaranteed purchase price of wheat has decreased purchase of wheat by 3 million tonnes this year and there are concerns that with inappropriate rates set next year the purchase will decline further, and experts and parliamentarians and farmers themselves warned about this.

We had a conversation with the exemplary farmer in this regard. Salman Asadi Jollodar, a farmer with a master’s degree in economics last year, told Fars: “If the government does not correct the guaranteed purchase price of wheat as soon as possible, the guaranteed purchase of this strategic product will be further reduced next year.”

He warned that time is running out and opportunities for price correction are lost because wheat is a fall crop, and if time passes, farmers will replace it with another.

Asked how much do you think the reasonable price to buy wheat is? He said that by calculating inflation and high costs as well as encouraging farmers to cultivate strategic crops, the price of wheat should be at least IRR30000.

 
He continued: As we warned last year, lower guaranteed wheat purchases will reduce government purchases and this year the government purchases will be around 8 million tonnes, while at least they should have bought at least 5 million tones to meet the people requirements.

* If wheat prices do not improve, farmers will have to replace wheat cultivation with other crops

The farmers continued to explain his reasons regarding the low amount of wheat purchase and said: Farmers are always looking for costs and benefits, and crops like potatoes and onions are always a serious competitor for wheat cultivation. If wheat prices are low, farmers will replace it with these crops.

He added that in Moghan this year those who planted forage crops for their first crop earned 20 million Tomans per hectare. They plant a product that benefits them most.

The government should think about this issue that what will happen if we are not any more allowed to import wheat?

Asked if the guaranteed rate of wheat purchase would rise, the price of bread would have to go up and inflation in other areas would increase, he said. The wheat issue is very different; the country is in a state of extreme sanctions and threats. What should we think if we don’t produce wheat locally and they don’t allow us to import it?

According to the exemplary farmer, the only viable way for farmers to continue wheat cultivation is to set an appropriate rate.

He added that the cost of importing wheat would be at least IRR 50000 for the government. Does the government not have to pay money for imports in addition to supporting the domestic farmer by setting reasonable prices and avoiding food threats?

* Demand for wheat seed purchase decreased!!

The exemplary farmer, who is also the sales manager of Pars National Livestock Industry, said: Our research shows that the demand for irrigated wheat in the Moghan region has declined somewhat, indicating that the level of wheat cultivation has decreased. The only reason for that is the low guaranteed wheat purchase rate.

He stressed that if the government does not want to guarantee purchase rate of wheat, wheat production will be much lower next year.