Business

Wheat procurement target to be set for 2015-16

Provincial authorities, departments to attend meeting of review committee.

Our Correspondent February 16, 2015

According to statistics, the ministry had fixed the wheat procurement target of 8 million tons for the year 2013-14, out of which 6.131 million tons had been procured.PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has called a meeting of the Wheat Review Committee on Tuesday to discuss various issues including fixing the crop procurement target for the year 2015-16.

The meeting would be attended by representatives of all the provincial food and agriculture departments and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation, who would share their input.

The representatives would put their demands and requirements for wheat procurement for the respective provinces for 2015 and the target would be set accordingly. The provinces would also share their present inventory situation and their strategy for next year.

According to statistics, the ministry had fixed the wheat procurement target of 8 million tons for the year 2013-14, out of which 6.131 million tons had been procured.

Out of the total, Punjab procured 3.743 million tons, Sindh 1.216 million tons, Khyber-Pakthunkhwa purchased 0.071 million tons, Balochistan 0.090 million tons and Passco 1.011 million tons.

It is likely that the target would be more than the previous year keeping the growing demand in view. Additionally, the committee will also review and discuss the current wheat stocks available in the provinces and Passco and their delivery status.

Besides, the committee will also review the export progress after permission by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to export 1.2 million tons of surplus wheat and its products aimed at providing space for the next crop.

The ECC recently allowed provinces to export 1 million tons of wheat and 0.2 million tons of wheat products. To export wheat, the ECC has also approved a $45 per ton subsidy for Sindh stocks and $55 for Punjab.

The government subsidised the wheat export keeping in view the low price in the international market.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2015.

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