Minister for using new techniques of wheat production

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for National Food Security Fakhar Imam has said there is a need to promote "high yield" varieties of wheat to replace "old and disease susceptible varieties" to ensure greater yield of the staple food.

"There must be a breakthrough in wheat production in the country. The scientists should work harder. There is a need to strengthen the seed system value chain," Imam said on Wednesday while chairing a meeting on wheat production.

"We need to choose the best suitable wheat variety and follow timely planting. There is a need to establish dedicated trials to capture yield potential," the minister added.

Imam said wheat crop should be managed with optimum inputs like fertilizers, irrigation water, herbicides and fungicides to ensure maximum yield.

"There is a dire need to promote use of farm machinery - adopting line sowing, using zero tillage and surface seeding technologies to reduce cultivation cost and minimize risk due to shattering, threshing.”

Imam said proper storage practices should be followed to avoid post-harvest losses.

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Country Representative Dr Muhammad Imtiaz also briefed the meeting and discussed potential strategy for increasing wheat productivity.

He said the strategy involves three factors, including, fast increase of seeds of new varieties, closing the yield gap and maintaining grain minimum price.

"New wheat varieties contribute 50% to productivity single handedly. Pakistani farmers are growing 8-10 years old varieties which cause a 50% yield gap."

He said the Wheat Productivity Enhancement Programme (WPEP) and the Agricultural Innovation Programme for Pakistan (AIP) interventions have had a positive impact on productivity and increased wheat yield from 12% to 40%, aiding to a food secure future.

"CIMMYT’s has trained 10 thousand farmers on quality wheat seed production and marketing, for a sustainable local seed system strengthening.

"It has initiated seed banks with the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP). Seven seed banks are active in Bhakkar, Pind Dadan Khan, Gujjar Khan, Chakwal, Attock, Mirpur Khas and Swabi."

"From these seed banks, local farmers are getting quality seeds with 11% lower prices than the market and thus contributing to increase in wheat productivity/production."

He said less than 60% wheat is grown in cotton-wheat and rice-wheat systems both of which delay sowing and expose wheat to the terminal heat stress and to rust attack resulting in low yield.

"There is need to discourage wheat sowing after mid-December and replace with wheat sowing with other short duration corps." Dr Imtiaz also briefed the minister about impact of the WPEP on Pakistan wheat improvement research.

He said the WPEP is involved in technical backstopping activities and upgrading research facilities including mechanization.

CIMMYT is a non-profit research-for-development organization that develops improved varieties of wheat and maize with the aim of contributing to food security across the globe.