December 22, 2003

Pakistan Dismisses Wheat Shortage Speculation

Pakistani Parliamentary secretary on agriculture and food Rajab Ali Baloch has dismissed wheat shortage speculations in the country.

In a one-day Wheat seminar organized by the Crop Protection Association of Pakistan on December 20, Rajab assured the participants that the government had 2.5 million tons of wheat in its reserves, which would ensure sufficient consumption for the next three months. Stocks with private sector were in addition to that, he added

He said the country had produced 19.5 million tons of wheat this year. It had also a leftover of 100,000 tons from the last year. The quantity was enough to meet the requirements for the year but the government had imported 500,000 tons to meet any emergency.

He said 20 million ton wheat production was estimated next year which was enough for the country. "But we have to meet the requirements of the people in neighbouring countries as well."

Mr Baloch said cotton crisis in the country had been blown out of proportion by the media and the vested interests despite the fact that crop had been affected around the world. Even countries like the US, China, Uzbekistan and India had failed to meet the production targets.

Wheat commissioner Dr Qadir Bakhsh Baloch said maximum per acre wheat yield could be raised from the existing 25 maunds to 45 maunds per acre by adopting modern farming techniques, using certified seed and phosphatic fertilizer.

Punjab agriculture department pest warning director Dr Ijaz Pervez said weeds could affect wheat production up to 35%. Canal water, thrashers and birds could facilitate growth of weeds by propagating the seeds.

Pakistan Crop Protection Association president Ejaz Ahmad said pesticides were being used in the country for the past 25 years but no plant protection policy had been evolved as yet. Pesticide use was governed only by an SRO and executive orders.

He said multinationals were being facilitated to mint money from the sale of pesticide through undue favours. A hue and cry was raised about the sale of adulterated pesticides in the media but only 130 of 2,560 samples had been found adulterated.