In preparation for the start of the Rabi crop season in a few weeks, the government has set a production target of 30 million tonnes of wheat for the years 2021-22. To achieve this goal, the government has directed that provinces increase the total area under cultivation and the yield per hectare by utilizing rust-resistant and certified seeds, as well as by using fertilizers and pesticides in the proper quantities.
The country produced 27.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2020-21, and the government is now preparing to make policy decisions ahead of the wheat sowing season in consultation with the provinces, including a minimum support price that will encourage farmers to expand the area under cultivation and the provision of inputs. The minimum support price will encourage farmers to expand the area under cultivation and the provision of inputs.
During the 2020-21 crop, Punjab will have to increase its wheat production from 20 million tons in 2020-21 to 23 million tons in the next crop. Other wheat-producing provinces will be asked to contribute to the national wheat target of 30 million tons, which has been set by the government.
Syed Fakhr Imam, Minister for National Food Security and Research, stated during a meeting of the Wheat Review Committee held here on Monday that every year, five to six million people are added to the country’s growing population, resulting in an increase in the total demand for wheat in the country.
Mr. Imam believes that by managing the controllable factors, such as the availability of high-quality seeds, the proper use of irrigation water, the application of the appropriate fertilizers at the appropriate time, and the use of pesticides, the overall production of wheat can be significantly increased.
According to him, it was necessary to expand both the total area under cultivation and the yield per hectare at the same time.
“The government wishes to develop a policy in which every stakeholder’s voice is heard and their concerns are addressed in their entirety. In order to increase wheat production, a well-informed policy will be announced ahead of the sowing season,” Mr. Imam stated.
The minister reminded the provincial food departments of the importance of finalizing the minimum support price as soon as possible.
He was informed that the provinces had submitted their minimum support price recommendations to the federal cabinet, which was now awaiting approval by the cabinet.
The provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have finalized their wheat release prices, which are Rs1,950 per 40kg and Rs1,100 per 20kg, respectively. The retail price for wheat would be Rs1,100 per 20kg, according to the provincial governments.
The Punjab government decided that wheat would be distributed to recognized functional flour mills based on the population of the jurisdiction in which they were located. Flour mills have been granted permission to grind their own proprietary stocks. They would be required to grind the public supply, however, within the time frame specified by law.
On the subject of wheat release policy, the committee was informed that the Sindh government had not yet received final clearance from its cabinet.
His emphasis was on announcing the minimum support price well in advance of the wheat sowing season. Mr. Imam stated that the government’s decision to raise the minimum support price from Rs1,400 per 40kg of wheat to Rs1,800 per 40kg of wheat had yielded fruitful results and assisted the country in harvesting 27.5 million tonnes of wheat, the highest and most historic production in the country’s history.
He stated that the availability of inputs such as 513,000 tonnes of certified seed, fertilizers, and irrigation water, as well as favorable weather conditions, were the most crucial factors in the harvest.
The minister stated that the government has been concentrating on the availability of certified seed and that for the forthcoming season, around 530,000 tonnes of seed would be accessible, with 160,000 tonnes of rust-tolerant types.
The final forecasts of wheat output in 2020-21, as well as the current wheat stock situation, were presented to the wheat review committee on Wednesday. During the same year, Punjab produced 20.9 million tonnes of wheat, followed by Sindh’s 4.04 million tonnes, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan with 1.45 million tonnes and 1.15 million tonnes, respectively.
According to the wheat crop production estimates for 2020-21 prepared by the provincial crop reporting services, Punjab accounted for 76 percent of total wheat production, followed by Sindh at 14.55 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 5.27 percent, and Balochistan at 4.18 percent. Punjab also accounted for 76 percent of total wheat production in the previous year.
Punjab has a total wheat stock of 3.86 million tonnes, Sindh has a store of 1.26 million tonnes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a stock of 0.18 million tonnes, and Balochistan has a stock of 0.085 million tonnes.
