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Decline in wheat production likely
LAHORE-A decline in wheat production is expected as sowing of
the crop will be postponed by at least three weeks in the rice
zone of the province following delay in harvesting of paddy
crop.
Official agriculture experts told The Nation here on Thursday
that Basmati variety had been sown on 87 per cent of the total
area under rice this year. The late maturity of the fine paddy
varieties, which was expected to be harvested upto third week
of this month, would result in late sowing of the subsequent
wheat crop. Paddy crop was sown over an area of 3.3 million
acres in Punjab this year Referring to a research, experts
were of the view that November 1-20 was optimum period for
harvesting a healthy wheat crops. "Late sowing plays havoc as
the production of the crop is badly affected," they observed,
adding after November 20, wheat production reduces one per
cent per day.
The experts said that same was the case of cotton crop as due
to late picking, wheat sowing has been delayed in the southern
Punjab. It is pertinent to mention here that cotton had been
sown at 60 lakh acres while Paddy crop was sown over an area
of 3.3 million acres in Punjab this year.
They termed the situation ‘alarming’ saying that wheat
production could be reduced considerably due to the late
sowing. "The issue has become a threat to the sowing besides
over 50pc water shortage in the province during the current
season," they opined.
Consequently, wheat sowing could not get momentum in the
province yet. Though, sowing of the crop in the rain-fed area
was completed in majority regions. One can see germinated
wheat in Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum and Chakwal.
It may be noted that Federal Committee of Agriculture (FCA)
has set wheat target at 20.1 million tons, for the Rabi
season. The wheat target for Punjab stands at 15.6 million
tons, Sindh 2.7 million tons, NWFP 1.06 million tons and
Balochistan 6 million tons for the current season.
The Nation, November 16, 2001
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