Damage to rice crop sparks price rise fears

10% of cultivated crop has been badly hit in Punjab.

KARACHI:

Expressing concern over damage to rice paddy in Punjab during recent rains, the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has said this may leave its effect on rice prices as well as exports.

Rains and floods have mainly hurt the rice crop in Punjab as 10% of cultivated fields have been badly damaged.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, REAP Chairman Jawed Ali Ghori said the association was working on reports to ascertain the loss and damage to rice plantations. According to him, basmati rice has borne the brunt of the losses, which is likely to lead to a price increase of up to 20% in domestic markets and hamper exports.



Floods and heavy rains have particularly hit the areas of Kamoke and Muridke, where up to 50% standing crop has been washed away. In Sialkot, the crop loss is around 10-12%, Narowal 10-15%, Pasroor 20%, Narang Mandi 15%, Hafizabad 5-7%, Jhang 15-20% and Chiniot 10-15%.

Ghori pressed the central government to take immediate measures to address the problems of growers and other stakeholders. “Every year we face such a disastrous situation,” he said and asked the government to take preventive measure to avoid such incidents in future. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2013.

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