July 26, 2004

Pakistan's Sindh Faces Wheat Crisis

Pakistan's Sindh is facing another wheat crisis despite production of over 1.8 million tonnes this year.

The provincial government had set a wheat procurement target of 600,000 tonnes this year and started early procurement from March 1 instead of April 1, but could only procure less than 200,000 tonnes throughout the province. According to official estimates, the food department, through 200 procurement centres, acquired 179,268 tonnes from all over the province.

Procurement did not touch the 30,000-tonne mark in any of the districts, including the home district of Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi.

According to a district-wise break-up of wheat procurement, 28,492 tonnes was the highest figure throughout the province that was procured from district Khairpur.