'Sufficient quantity of wheat available'

Sindh Secretary for Agriculture, Sabhago Khan Jatoi has made it clear that sufficient quantity of wheat is available in the province however a group of profiteers has created an artificial shortage by hoarding wheat to achieve their personal goals.
The federal and provincial governments have issued directives to the district governments to initiate stern action against these profiteers so as to overcome the wheat crisis and all out efforts are under way to prepare an effective strategy in collaboration with Food Department so that no such crisis could occur in future, Jatoi said this while speaking as chief guest at the tractor and thresher distribution ceremony held under Grow More Wheat Campaign 2005-2006 here at the Directorate of Agriculture Extension Sindh.
He said Sindh province has cultivated wheat on additional 10 million hectares of land against the fixed target of 972 million hectares, which resulted in a record wheat production as compared to previous years. He added that in view of record production of wheat the question of wheat shortage does not arise.
Jatoi said that friendly policies of the department, effective recommendations of agricultural scientists and hard work of the growers' community brought about success in shape of record production of different crops in the province. The government is introducing new varieties of corps so that an atmosphere of competition could prevail among the growers.
He expressed happiness over the participation of large number of females in agriculture sector adding that the interest of women in this sector would help boost crop production in the province. He said the government has allocated Rs 1.75 billion for the development of agriculture sector of the province under such allocation various development projects have been initiated to provide maximum benefits to the growers' community.
He informed that work on various projects including drip and sprinkle systems has also been executed so that the growers could achieve maximum crop production by utilising minimum quantity of water.
The second phase of lining of watercourses would also be started soon under National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses, he added. He later handed over tractors to Allah Bachayo, a grower of Matiari and Aslam Shah, a grower of Ghotki district and threshers to Ali Asghar of Naushero Feroz, Sakina Saeh of Mirpurkhas and Liaquat Ali of Larkana in recognition of maximum wheat production.