By Rahmatullah Buriro
Unclear Figures, Unanswered Questions
Despite repeated claims by the Sindh government, there is little transparency regarding the exact number of Benazir Hari Cards issued under the Agriculture Department. No confirmed figures, paperwork, or credible reports are available to show how many farmers have been registered.
Official claims suggest that 1.5 million farmers can register online, with an initial plan to issue cards to 298,000 farmers holding 1–25 acres. Some reports suggest 80,000 new registrations are ready for card issuance. Meanwhile, the department’s own website mentions a target of 1.4 million farmers.
The “Wet Growers Support Program”
In a major announcement, the Sindh government introduced a Rs. 55.9 billion subsidy program, popularly branded as “Khush Haal Kisan” (Our Farmers Will Be Happy). According to advertisements, 400,000 farmers and 22.6 lakh acres of land have been registered under this scheme.
Through the Benazir Hari Card, each registered farmer is entitled to one bag of DAP fertilizer and two bags of urea. Market estimates place a 50kg bag of DAP at Rs. 12,430–12,610 and urea at Rs. 5,040–5,080. Multiplying these costs across the announced beneficiaries translates into massive subsidy figures:
Urea: Rs. 2.16 billion (for 400,000 farmers)
DAP: Rs. 4.97 billion (for 400,000 farmers)
Across 22.6 lakh acres: over Rs. 49 billion in fertilizer support
Corruption and Nepotism in the Department
Unfortunately, past experience shows that such subsidy programs often collapse under the weight of bureaucratic corruption, nepotism, and political interference. Former Director General Agricultural Extension, Hidayatullah Chhajro, who remained in the post for over a decade, is facing corruption inquiries after allegedly misusing billions.
Now, as the current DG nears retirement on October 14, 2025, reports indicate fierce lobbying for the post. According to insiders, bids for the DGship are reaching Rs. 3 crores, while lower postings require bribes ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to 20 lakh.
The “Double R System”
Sources within the department describe entrenched “systems” such as the Double R (Rafiq-Rahu) and Server System—unofficial networks of bribery and collection that dictate postings, transfers, and project allocations. These shadow structures cripple transparency and turn multi-billion-rupee subsidy schemes into opportunities for rent-seeking.
Policy vs. Practice
While PPP leadership, including Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former President Asif Ali Zardari, emphasize agriculture as a priority in the 2018–2030 Sindh Agriculture Policy, ground realities tell a different story. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mehar have announced big-ticket subsidies, but implementation remains riddled with inefficiency and corruption.
The Way Forward
With wheat cultivation season underway in southern Sindh, timely and transparent distribution of fertilizer subsidies is critical. Farmers deserve swift relief and honest execution of policies. Unless the entrenched culture of corruption within the Agriculture Department is dismantled, even well-funded initiatives like the Rs. 55.9 billion subsidy package risk becoming another lost opportunity.
