Pakistan has missed the wheat production target as the government projected 26.8 million tons of output for 2021-22 from an area of 8.99 million hectares, which is 2.5% lower than the previous year’s production.
In a meeting on Thursday, the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA), which met under the chairmanship of Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, reviewed the performance of Rabi crops (2021-22).
The committee was informed about the estimated gram production for 2021-22 at 354,700 tons from an area of 866,600 hectares, which was 51.6% higher than the previous year’s output.
Moreover, potato production was estimated at 7.74 million tons from an area of 0.3 million hectares, around 34.8% higher than the previous year’s production, it was informed.
The committee also discussed the production achievements of other essential crops such as lentil, onion and tomato.
Regarding Kharif crops of 2022, the committee decided to fix cotton production target at 11 million bales from an area of 2.5 million hectares while rice target was fixed at 8.6 million tons from 3.1 million hectares.
Production targets for other crops such as maize, mash, chillies, etc were also fixed.
The committee fixed the production target of sugarcane (2022-23) at 78.6 million tons from an area of 1.2 million hectares.
About the availability of agricultural inputs for Kharif crops, it was decided that water availability in canal heads would stand at 65.84 million acre feet
as compared to the previous year’s 65.08 million acre feet.
At present, all provinces were getting satisfactory supplies in the system, it was informed.
Read: Wheat support price jacked up to Rs2,200
Regarding rainfall, the meeting was informed that the Meteorological Department predicted overall normal rainfall across the country, adding that sufficient water would be available for irrigation and power production.
The committee was informed that rice and maize seeds would be available as per the requirement.
Moreover, a State Bank of Pakistan representative told the meeting that the allocation of institutional credit for agriculture had substantially increased to Rs1.7 trillion for 2021-22.
Until January 2022, the disbursement stood at Rs740.3 billion (43.5% of the overall target) as compared to Rs715.6 billion disbursed during the previous year, a jump of 3.45%.
The committee appreciated the positive impact of the fertiliser subsidy scheme, which contributed to higher yields.
It noted that the supply of urea remained under pressure due to higher demand and increased prices of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate).
Due to local production and available stocks, the supply of urea would remain comfortable subject to the functioning of LNG-based urea plants, it was informed. DAP supply would also remain at satisfactory levels.
The committee expressed satisfaction over the
food security situation in the country.
However, it emphasised the need for research and development as well as better coordination to consolidate the gains and ensure further progress of the sector.
The high-powered FCA was mandated to oversee the strategic measures for ensuring food security in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2022.
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