Flood aftermath: no fear of food grain shortage
Government has about 7.2 million tonnes of wheat as strategic food reserve
ISLAMABAD:
Despite floods that swept away crops over vast swathes of farmland in Punjab, there are no immediate fears of food grain shortage in the country. “The country has abundant strategic food reserves to cater to the domestic requirements and keep the supply smooth across the country,” Deputy Food Security Commissioner Dr Imtiaz Ahmad Gopang told APP. He said that recent floods have damaged crops of rice, sugarcane and cotton in different areas of Punjab. The total cultivated area in Punjab was recorded at 563,296 hectares, whereas standing crops over 503,700 were hit by floods, the official said quoting initial estimates. Regarding food grain reserves he said the last wheat harvest was around 25.3 million tonnes against the domestic demand of around 23 million tonnes. Besides, he said the government had about 7.2 million tonnes of wheat as strategic food reserve. Moreover, the last harvest of rice was recorded at over seven million as compared to the local requirements of about 2.5 million tonnes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
Despite floods that swept away crops over vast swathes of farmland in Punjab, there are no immediate fears of food grain shortage in the country. “The country has abundant strategic food reserves to cater to the domestic requirements and keep the supply smooth across the country,” Deputy Food Security Commissioner Dr Imtiaz Ahmad Gopang told APP. He said that recent floods have damaged crops of rice, sugarcane and cotton in different areas of Punjab. The total cultivated area in Punjab was recorded at 563,296 hectares, whereas standing crops over 503,700 were hit by floods, the official said quoting initial estimates. Regarding food grain reserves he said the last wheat harvest was around 25.3 million tonnes against the domestic demand of around 23 million tonnes. Besides, he said the government had about 7.2 million tonnes of wheat as strategic food reserve. Moreover, the last harvest of rice was recorded at over seven million as compared to the local requirements of about 2.5 million tonnes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.