December 16, 2011

Pakistan's wheat planting 90% complete

As of December 11, Pakistan's wheat crop has been planted over 15 million acres in Punjab, which is 90% of the target area for the Kharif crop season 2011-12, according to Director General Agriculture Extension Services, Dr Anjum.

He said the Punjab government had set a target to sow wheat crop over 16.9 million acres this year to produce 22 million tonnes of wheat, which is the staple food of the nation. The late wheat sowing is in full swing in the cotton growing areas, which is likely to be completed in next ten days

He said dry weather has been reported from the agricultural plains of Punjab since December 1. The current day temperature of 24 Celsius is good for the crop. However, according to the metrological office, parts of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur may experience dense and prolonged foggy conditions till December 20, he added.