Agriculture output: Government sets wheat production target at 25m tons

Farmers likely to face 14% water shortage during sowing this season.

ISLAMABAD:

The government has set wheat production target at 25 million tons for the Rabi sowing season 2013-14, but all depends on adequate supply of water and fertiliser to farmers.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture, a high-powered body that met on Monday under the chairmanship of Seerat Asghar, Federal Secretary for the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, also set production targets for other key crops.

Representatives of provincial agriculture departments, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), Pakistan Meteorological Department, State Bank of Pakistan, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, National Fertiliser Development Centre and senior officers of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were present in the meeting.

The committee fixed sugarcane production target at 62.8 million tons from sowing over an area of 1.13 million hectares.

According to a statement issued here, farmers of the country are expected to produce around 5.99 million tons of rice in the current season after planting the crop over an area of 2.7 million hectares.

For meeting the 25-million-ton target, wheat will be sown over an area of 8.89 million hectares. Certified wheat seeds will meet 20% of the requirement.

Output targets for other crops including maize, chilli and moong were also discussed.

However, representatives of provincial agriculture departments underlined the importance of ensuring adequate supply of urea and phosphatic fertiliser during December and January, terming them crucial for reaching the targets.

Gram production is expected to be 760,000 tons from cultivation over an area of 1.03 million hectares. Onion crop is likely to be 1.9 million tons.

Irsa representatives told the committee 31.214 million acre feet (MAF) of irrigation water was expected to be provided during the Rabi season compared to average consumption of 36.386 MAF in the season.

Overall, shortage of irrigation water in the Indus Basin system is said to be 14% in the season, two percentage points more than the same period last year. However, water in the reservoirs is at higher levels compared to last year.

Apart from this, the Meteorological Department sees better prospects for rains in upper parts of the country this year.

A representative of the State Bank of Pakistan pointed out that credit allocation for the agriculture sector had substantially increased to Rs360 billion for 2013-14 compared to previous year’s Rs336 billion.

The committee noted with satisfaction that there was adequate supply of pesticides and herbicides to the farmers. Estimates suggest 3.15 million tons of urea will be available in the season against demand for three million tons.

However, the committee emphasised the importance of importing urea on time as well as production of sufficient fertiliser by domestic plants to meet the needs in crucial sowing months of December and January.

Supply of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was estimated at 837,000 tons against requirement of 720,000 tons

The government’s move to revive the Federal Committee on Agriculture, which met after a hiatus of three years, drew appreciation from all the participants, declaring the committee vital for planning and coordination for the development of agriculture in the country.

The decisions taken in the meeting will be reviewed in a follow-up sitting to be held next month. The committee also reviewed the performance of Kharif crops this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2013.

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