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Watch
Wheat
production surpasses revised estimates: Junejo
ISLAMABAD-Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Khair
Muhammad Junejo said on Tuesday the wheat production during
the current year has risen to 18.955 million tonnes (mt)
surpassing the revised estimates of 18.5 mt despite water
shortage.
He said here on August 7, 2001 Punjab recorded wheat
production of 15.420 mt whereas in Sindh it was 2.226 mt, NWFP
0.759 mt and Balochistan 0.550 mt.
The target of 20 mt wheat production was set for the year 2001
but had to be revised twice due to lack of rains and shortage
of irrigation water, he added.
The lowest target of 17.4 mt was estimated by Federal
Agriculture Committee after considering prevailing factors and
gravity of water situation.
He said, "Despite 40 to 50 percent water shortage we achieved
a good production level owing to farmers endeavour who used
water judiciously and efficiently." Junejo said the area
target for wheat sowing was set at 8.43 million hectares
showing an overall decrease of 2.9 million tonnes as compared
to the previous area of 8.463 million hectares due to non-
availability of sufficient irrigation water.
About wheat procurement position, the Minister said, about
3.933 mt wheat has so far been procured against an overall
procurement target of 4.5 mt. In Punjab, he said, about 2.265
mt wheat has been procured against a target of 3.0 mt while in
Sindh, the procurement of 0.429 mt against the target of 0.400
mt has been made. In Balochistan, the procurement of 0.8 t
against a target of 0.100 mths been made.
Junejo said the overall wheat stock position on July 17, was
7.385 mt which included Punjab 3.725 mt. Sindh 1.1119 mt, NWFP
0.3309 mt, Balochistan 0.278 mt and PASSCO 1.954 mt.
The production of wheat during 1999-2000 was 21.1 mt from an
area of 8.64 million hectares. The production of Punjab was
16.48 mt, Sindh 3.01 mt , NWFP 1.07 mt and Balochistan 0.53 mt.
Junejo said provincial governments and Pakistan Agriculture
Supply and Storage Corporation (PASSCO) have been asked to
accelerate procurement process to safeguard farmers interest
and to ensure minimum wheat price of Rs.300 per maund for the
growers.
He expressed the hope that farmers would be able to get
reasonable price of their production as a result of
appropriate measures taken by the government.
The Minister said the government has also decided to encourage
private sector in wheat procurement and its storage. A
strategy to improve marketing mechanism and export of
agriculture production was also being devised to boost
national economy.
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