A Crisis of Mismanagement

Punjab’s farmers are refusing to release wheat stocks piled up in their homes, while people can ill afford to buy bread. The reason is a glut of wheat – first because of a bumper crop, and then because the government has massive stocks in its godowns. With excess supply, the price has gone down to an extent where the farmers are finding it unsustainable to sell the wheat. As a result, they are pledging not to grow wheat next year. If the government does not correct its planning, Punjab could be staring at acute wheat shortage next year and more misery for the people.