January 15, 2009
Pakistan likely to miss FY '09 wheat output target
Pakistan is likely to miss its wheat output target of 25 million tonnes in the financial year to June due to a shortfall in fertilizer availability, an official of federal agriculture ministry said Wednesday (January 14).
Wheat output is expected to be about 24 million tonnes but despite adequate rainfall will fall short of the target, the official said.
Earlier Wednesday, a private television channel said the wheat output would touch 27 million tonnes, exceeding the target, quoting the Food and Agriculture Ministry.
Annual demand for wheat, the staple, has increased to 25 million tonnes in recent years. In 2007-08, Pakistan produced 22.5 million tonnes of wheat and imported 2.5 million tonnes to meet the shortfall.
