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Storage shortage to hamper wheat procurement
By Saleem Shaikh
 AS
the Sindh government is beset with a storage problem for the
new wheat crop, it may stagger purchases or lower the
procurement target, this scribe has gathered from official
sources.
Often the storage problem results in financial losses to the
provincial exchequer. The unsafe and unscientific storage of
wheat crop in poorly maintained godowns sometimes damage the
grain, admit officials in the provincial planning and
development department.
Approximately 3.2 million tons of wheat is expected from the
current Rabi crop, sown on some 1.020 million hectares. The
provincial target of 1.5 million ton procurement is much in
excess of its storage capacity of around 0.6 million tons,
said food director in the provincial food department and
added: “The remaining 0.7 million tons procured wheat would
be put in privately rented godowns.”
The official recalled: “Last year, the provincial food
department picked up around 1.2-1.3 million tons wheat, half
of which was stored in government godowns and the rest in
privately rented godowns that cost Rs30 million to the
provincial government. ”Some 100,000 ton surplus stock of
last year is still lying unsold.
It would be difficult for the government to store
fresh stocks when it failed to get rid of the
previous year’s carryover of 100,000 tons, says
Mohammad Yousuf, chairman All Pakistan Flour Mills
Association, Sindh chapter.
Last year, the flour mills association arranged for
storage of the provincial government’s around 0.1
million tons wheat in its own godowns but this year
it is going to be difficult to provide additional
storage space for the large quantity of new wheat
procured by the food department,” recalled Yousuf.
The provincial food director insists the government
would succeed in selling the old wheat stock surplus
before the new wheat arrives at government godowns.
It would cost around Rs35-40 million to the
provincial exchequer to store the new crop in
private storages, a food department official said.
“Storing half a million ton wheat in private godowns
was the only option. Because, building of new
godowns or silos was not possible in a matter of one
year or two,” said a food department official.
Amin Memon, growers’ leader in Badin, remarked:
“This year again if the provincial government opts
for storing fresh wheat in private godowns, the
damage to grain stocks cannot be ruled out because
these godowns lack scientific and safe storage
facilities.”
“Unless the Sindh government takes timely
initiatives for building up modern grain storage
facilities and upgrading the existing ones, things
would not improve, says wheat trader Khair Mohammad
Shaikh, who also advises Sindh Chief Minister on
procurement matters.
He deplored that though money is provided in the
budget every year for the construction of modern
silos, the allocations lapse
Courtesy: The DAWN
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