Encouraged by government's timely announcement of Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) of Rs 950 per 40 kilogram and other facilities, farmers have increase the area under wheat cultivation by 16 percent this year (2008-09) as compared to the last fiscal year.
Agriculture Development Commissioner Qadir Bux Baloch told newsmen that this year total area under wheat crop cultivation was increased by 16 percent due to early announcement of GMP up to Rs 950 per 40 kilogram. While giving province wise details of total area sown during the current year (2008-09), they said wheat crop was cultivated over 8.7 million hectares as against the target of 8.4 million hectares set for the same period last year.
The agriculture experts believe that current rain spell and low temperature would have positive impact on Rabi crops in the country, particularly the major cash crop of wheat. "The recent rain spell will benefit wheat crop across the country, particularly in the rain-fed (Barani) areas and the wide spread rains occurred in December 6-11 and 19-20, 2008 and during the first week of January have a positive impact on wheat crop," Agricultural Development Commissioner, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal), Dr Qadir Bux Baloch told newsmen here on Wednesday.
"The rains not only moisturised the land but also cooled down the temperature, which at present is very healthy for wheat crop," he added. He said due to the current rains, the temperature had reduced, which was supportive for wheat crop, adding that it would help produce good wheat crop.
He said wheat was sown in a total area of 8.6 million hectares in the year 2008-09 in the country and a wheat target of 25 million tons had been set for the current year. He said that in the last year (2007-08), wheat was sown in an area of 8.5 million hectares and 20.9 million tons production was achieved.
In Punjab province wheat was sown over 6.6 million-hectare of land as compare to over 6.3 million hectares cultivated same period last year. About Sindh and NWFP province, he said 1.027 million hectares and 0.745 million hectares land, wheat was sown respectively, while in Balochistan 371 million hectares was set for wheat production for the year 2008-09.
Baloch said that 25 million tons of wheat production was expected this year, adding that 6.5 million tons of wheat would be procured through Passco to fulfil the domestic consumption during the year 2008-09. The Provincial governments and Passco would cross check and finalise their wheat procurement ceiling, storage and distribution strategy by March 1, they said.
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