Wheat production target set at 25m tons

All Kharif crops missed their targets due to the unprecedented floods across the country.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) on Monday fixed wheat production target at 25 million tons for 2010-11 against estimated consumption of 23.5 million tons.

The FCA also reviewed the performance of Kharif crops, all of which missed their targets due to the unprecedented floods across the country.

Talking to media after the FCA meeting, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal said all Kharif crops including cotton, sugarcane, rice and others missed their targets due to the floods.

He said latest estimates put cotton production at about 11 million bales against the target of 14 million bales. Rice production is expected to be around 5.95 million tons in 2010-11 against the target of 6.18 million tons earlier.

About sugarcane, the minister said estimates put the crop at 44 million tons against the target of 53.69 million tons.

However, he said there was no shortage of the commodity, but the prevailing prices were not reasonable. He blamed a strong mafia for the skyrocketing sugar prices. “Provinces have to take action against profiteers and hoarders of sugar.”

He went on to say that the provinces still could not pick up 100,000 tons of sugar from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on cash payment. “Sugar is a luxury item and people should reduce its consumption to tackle the runaway prices.”

Production of cereals and other crops

The agriculture committee saw maize production at 3.5 million tons for 2010-11 with a similar requirement. Moong production target was set at 159,000 tons compared to consumption of 106,000 tons and provinces confirmed production of 80,000 tons.

The estimate for mash production was set at 15,000 tons against demand of 45,000 tons and provinces confirmed production of 10,000 tons. Output for chillies was set at 159,000 tons.

Rabi crops

Potato production target was fixed at 2.94 million tons against demand of 1.7 million tons. Onion production was set at 1.82 million tons compared to consumption of 1.5 million tons. Gram output was fixed at 619,000 tons while lentil production was estimated at 14,000 tons.

Gondal said provinces have been directed to devise an appropriate policy for promotion of pulses (gram and lentil) cultivation.

Discussing weather conditions, he said for the Rabi season 2010-11, dry conditions were expected during November and December while from January to March next year normal conditions were likely to prevail.

He said climate change was an established phenomenon and to deal with that the researchers were asked to develop varieties which could sustain drought, high temperature and excessive rainfall.

In 2009-10, banks disbursed Rs248 billion in agricultural credit, which was 95 percent of the allocated amount. The Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited has been directed to immediately set a limit for farm credit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2010.