April 12, 2011
 

Pakistani government to acquire 1.3 million tonnes of wheat

The Pakistan Federal Government has declared its intention to procure 1.3 million tonnes of wheat this year.

In accordance with details given, 0.5 million tonnes would be retained as Federal Strategic Reserves and 0.4 million tonnes under South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Food Bank.

The provinces will make the decision the way they wish and federal government might not be intervening in provincial matters. It is relevant to mention here that prior to the 18th amendment, the federal government used to give a collective figure for wheat procurement. This has now changed, and provinces will make their decisions independently.

Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture, Mir Israrullah Zehri, has given directions to set up a complaint cell at the ministry to address farmers' complaints in the upcoming wheat procurement season, the minister said while chairing a Wheat Procurement Preparatory Meeting here at the ministry.

"Farmers, especially small ones must be protected against exploitation of the middlemen and must be provided the officially announced support price of PKR950 (US$11) per 40 kilogrammes. The farmers usually face difficulties in getting bardana (bags) for their produce, but we are trying our best to enforce a smooth and transparent mechanism so that bardana is distributed among the genuine growers", said the minister.

Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Limited (PASSCO) has been designated to purchase 1.3 million tonnes of wheat this season. 1.26 million tonnes will be acquired from Punjab while the other 0.04 million tonnes will be procured from the Sindh province. PASSCO has set up twelve zones in both of the provinces with more sub-centres in each area.

Zehri also said that the complaint cell, set up at MINFA, would register the complaints of the farmers. He gave the assurance that responses from the officials concerned would be readily available. The minister gave instructions that the contact numbers of the cell must be spread through print and electronic media to raise awareness among farmers.

Dr GM Mahmoodi, who was also directed to inform the minister about farmers' complaints on a daily basis, will look after the complaint cell.