Despite accepting 16 percent water shortage, the government Tuesday set wheat production target at 26.01 million tonnes for Rabi sowing season 2016-17 from an area of 9.12 million hectares. Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Minister for National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R), told a press conference after presiding over a meeting of Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) for Rabi 2016-17, the committee has fixed wheat production target at 26.01 million tons for Rabi season 2016-17.
The FCA meeting reviewed the estimate for Kharif crops production and fixed targets for the Rabi season 2016-17. It also reviewed agriculture input including fertiliser, water, seed and pesticides. The minister said that country will face 16 percent shortage of water during Rabi season 2016-17 which is six percent more than the last year.
The irrigation water availability position for current Rabi season was estimated at 30.34 million Acre Feet (MAF) as against average usage of 36.3 MAF for the season, he said, adding that overall water shortage would not have adverse impact on Rabi crops as the government would make effort to ensure effective water management.
Bosan said that Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted that less rainfall is expected during October and December whereas above normal rainfall is expected in February and March 2017. According to working paper of FCA meeting, out of 26.01 million tons, Punjab will produce 19.51 million tons, Sindh 4.2 million tons, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa 1.4 million tons and Balochistan 0.9 million tons.
About wheat stock situation in the country, he said that at the start of harvesting season of next year wheat crop, country will have 3 million tons surplus wheat stock. According to a working paper of FCA meeting, the currently country has 9.297 million tons wheat stock. Out of total 9.297 million tons, Punjab has 5.933 million tons, Sindh 1.395 million tons, KP 0.0725 million tons, Balochistan 0.00 million tons and PASSSCO 1.868million ton.
He said that the certified wheat seed availability would be 35.9 percent of the total seed requirement of the crop in 206-17 while during 2015-16, total seed availability stood at 26.1 percent of the total seed requirement of the crop. The minister said the FCA also fixed production target of other crops including gram, lentil, onion and potato.
He said that representatives of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) informed the meeting that allocation of institutional credit for agriculture had substantially been increased to Rs 700 billion for 2016-17. The committee also discussed the position of supply of agriculture inputs for Rabi crops. The supply of Urea and DAP fertiliser will be satisfactory during Rabi season 2016-17, he said.
Bosan said the committee also reviewed the performance of Kharif crops for 2016-17 including sugarcane, rice, maize, chilies and moong. The minister said that sugarcane production for 2016 was estimated at 71.8 million tons from an area of 1.223 million hectares.
He said that the rice crop 2016 was estimated at 7.58 million tons from an area of 2.66 million hectares. Production achievements of some other crops like maize, moong, mash and chilies were also discussed in the meeting, he said. He said that the federal government in consultation with provincial governments announced a subsidy of Rs 27 billion on phosphatic and nitrogenous fertiliser for the financial year 2016-17. This subsidy will ensure the balanced used of fertilisers in our agriculture production system, he said, adding that the impact of fertiliser on yield and production in sugarcane, miaze and moon were also noted.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of provincial agriculture departments, Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Pakistan Metrological Department, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Zarai Taraqqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL), National Fertiliser Development Centre (NFDC) and others.
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