Wheat production target hard to achieve, experts believe

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Nauman Tasleem
LAHORE: The wheat-sowing target might be achieved this year but the wheat production target would not be achieved due to delay in wheat sowing and other factors, the farmers associations and agriculturists informed on Thursday.

However, the MINFAL official's claim is to the contrary as MINFAL believes that the wheat production target would be met.

They said that the government has set target of sowing 22 million acre land while the wheat production target is set at 25 million tonnes. However, till end of November only 50 percent area could be brought under cultivation. "With further delay the yield of wheat would be affected and as a result, the production of wheat would drop," said Dr Mohammad Tariq Bucha, Director and Honorary Chief Co-ordinator Farmer Association Pakistan (FAP). He said that the sowing of wheat in a number of districts is quite positive but delay in sowing would affect the production. He said that wheat sowing has been delayed in cotton and sugarcane areas. "Ideally, wheat should be sown till 20 November, as in this case the wheat yield comes very good," said Bucha. "Unfortunately till that date only 28 percent area could be brought under cultivation," he lamented. "With each passing day, the yield reduces by 16 Kg per acre per day thus wheat lost per acre in one month would be around 480 Kg," he estimated. Bucha said that the target of 25 million tonnes wheat production is very optimistic approach by the government officials. "I wish we achieve the target but my calculation tells that even 20 million tonnes would be a hard task to achieve," he said.

The average yield in Pakistan is around 25 maund per acre.

Agri Forum Chairman, Ibrahim Mughal said that the wheat-sowing target has been achieved by around 80 percent but forecasting about production is difficult. "There are multiple factors, which could affect crop including weather in the coming months and availability of water," he said.

Qadir Baksh Baloch, Ministry of Food and Livestock Development Commissioner for Crops said that 95 percent sowing area has been achieved and the government is very optimistic to achieve the wheat production target. "The wheat sowing starts on 20 October and ends on 10 January therefore the wheat area would be achieved," he said. He believed that current rains would also help in better yield.

It is pertinent to mention that last year Qadir Buksh Baloch while talking to Daily Times has said that the wheat area and production would be achieved.

According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, the government for 2007-08 has set the target of sowing 21.1 million acre and production at 24 million tonnes but only 20.8 million acre were sowed and wheat production could not cross 22 million tonnes.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2008_pg5_6