The farmers of garlic in Bannu and the rest of southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA have suffered losses in garlic crop this year. The garlic market of Bannu is famous in the whole region for supplying good quality garlic to different parts of the country. Thousands of people are associated with the garlic supply in the market.

Malik Ayaz, President of the garlic market, says the farmers have suffered massive losses this year due to decrease in prices. "From this market, we send garlic to Karachi, Sukkur, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other cities of Punjab and Sindh. The farmers had bought the garlic for sowing their crops at Rs 10,000 per maund, but now the price per maund has reduced to Rs 2,500," Ayaz said.

Farmers bring garlic for sale to the Bannu market from Frontier Region Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan and other surrounding areas. Irfanullah, a garlic trader, said while talking to media persons that garlic is a cash crop of southern districts of KP and North Waziristan. "All the farmers in the southern districts and surrounding areas bring their garlic to the Bannu market," he said.

Malik Ayaz said the garlic of Bannu market is liked by the consumers from all parts of the country. He says the garlic of this region has good quality due to specific climate of the area. "The garlic of Bannu market is a bit expensive due to its good quality and odour. The market also provides good quality fruit," he said. The farmers have suffered losses due to dip in prices this year. They are not very hopeful about improvement in the situation even next year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017