National wheat cultivation record shattered

Punjab set a new record for the greatest wheat cultivation in the history of the country. According to the Department of Agriculture, wheat has been cultivated on over 17.4 million acres across Punjab. In 2014, the record stood at 17.2 million acres.

Due to the timely actions of the military and civil leadership, the area under wheat cultivation has increased. Farmers have planned to reduce maize cultivation by 40 percent while food crops have been reduced by 35 percent.

In addition, the Sindh and Punjab Flour Mills Associations have written a demand for the export of wheat products from the federal government. No rebate will be taken from the government for the export, while a long term policy to continue this process has been requested. In this regard, there is a strong possibility that an important meeting will be held at the federal level in the next few days. According to the Punjab Agriculture Department’s official report this season, wheat has been cultivated in an area over 17.4 million acres in the province, which is the highest cultivation record in the history of Pakistan and 1.4 million acres greater than last year.

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Wheat has been cultivated over 1.925 billion acres in Multan Division, 2.426 billion in DG Khan Division, 2.76 billion acres in Bahawalpur Division, 973 million acres in Sahiwal Division, 1.409 billion acres in Lahore Division, 1.217 billion acres in Gujranwala Division, 1.323 billion acres in Gujarat Division, 1.995 billion acres in Faisalabad Division, 1.839 billion acres in Sargodha Division and 1.560 billion acres in Rawalpindi Division.

According to farmers, the actions and announcements of Army Chief General Asim Munir for agricultural development have created confidence among the farmers, while the cultivation of wheat has become more profitable than corn with the price of Rs4,000 per mound. The speech given by the Army Chief at the Green Pakistan Convention in Islamabad created the belief that whatever the civilian government is now, the Pakistan Army will ensure the development of agriculture in any case.

Farmers’ circles also supported wheat export and said that if the country has abundant production of wheat, exporting wheat products will generate much-needed foreign exchange.

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The milling industry will develop and the farmer who supplies the raw material will prosper, growers said.

Moreover, after the Pakistan Flour Mills Association and Punjab Flour Mills Association, Sindh Flour Mills Association has also demanded the export of wheat products in writing. Central Chairman Pakistan Flour Mills Association Asim Raza had previously written demanding that flour mills be allowed to export wheat products.

He also suggested the import of wheat for export of products in this regard. Punjab Flour Mills Association supported this demand and now Sindh Flour Mills Association has joined in calling for exports.

According to federal government sources, federal ministers have received the letters from all milling associations and due to the expected high production of wheat and large quantity of imports, it may be considered to allow to export wheat products. According to a report by the Federal Ministry of National Food Security, over 1.6 million tons of wheat were imported by 33 ships until January 16th.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2024.