Govt to decide on export of maize, barley, chouker today

[LRE]

Govt to decide on export of maize, barley, chouker today

* Millers oppose, but growers support export of these items

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The government will decide on Wednesday (today) regarding the export of three crops namely, maize, barley and chouker.

The growers of the crops and its exporters want the government to allow exports, as they promise handsome return. The growers were of the view that the local millers deny them good return of their hard produce. The millers usually exploit the growers by paying lower price along with under weighing through different excuses.

The country produces 3.1 million tonnes of maize crop, which is sufficient to meet domestic demand of poultry industry. If the government allows the export of this crop, the price of local poultry products might further increase in the domestic market, an official in the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock told Daily Times here on Tuesday.

However, during bumper crops, the millers start exploiting the situation and offer lower price. In such situation, progressive farmers had contacted exporters and they have received positive response, the official added.

On other hand there was higher demand for the three products in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sari Lanka and even in Bangladesh. All these countries especially need maize crop and wanted to import it from Pakistan.

The growers were particularly facing trouble during bumper production because they get lower prices in return. In order to avoid such exploitation on part of millers, the growers seek government’s permission for exporting their produce.

The official further told this scribe that MINFAL already held two meetings with Ministry of Commerce and other stakeholders for making a comprehensive decision regarding export of maize barley and chouker. Some foreign buyers already consulted the Ministry of Commerce and they have shown willingness to purchase these products from Pakistan.

The MINFAL wanted to allow minimum export of these products and provide some good returns to the growers but at the same time the ministry also wants to safeguard the interest of poultry industry. In this regard, final decision will be taken on Wednesday (today) in Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet held in Karachi.

Experts in the poultry industry were of the view that maize export, which is the main ingredient in formulation of compounded poultry feed, is likely to spell disaster for poultry production in the country. The current production of over 3 million tonnes of maize in the country was hardly sufficient to meet the demand of poultry feed mills, domestic food consumption and industrial use.

They were of the view that the government must avoid anti-people policy. The export of maize would have a direct effect on atta prices as well because maize would go out of circulation as a food item. This damaging effect, in addition to rise in price of chicken meat which provides a nutritious high protein diet at reasonable price would make its consumption a dream for common people. They asked the government not to allow export of maize and impose complete ban on it.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg5_18