The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research has been informed that 97 percent sowing of wheat crop for year 2017-2018 has been completed on 8.7 million hectares of land against the total target of 8.9 million hectares in the country. An official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research briefed the parliamentary body presided over by Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah that 97 percent sowing of wheat crop has been completed in the country. "The provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have completed sowing of wheat, while sowing of the crop is in progress in Sindh and Balochistan," he added.
He informed the meeting that the total target of 8.9 million hectares of land for year 2017-18 is 0.117 million hectares less than the last year's target because of surplus wheat stock in the country. The provincial governments were advised to announce subsidy schemes for diversification of cropping pattern, he said, adding the government of Punjab has identified 200,000 acres for cultivation of sunflower and canola with a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per acre for small growers having land up to 12.5 acres.
He said that main reasons behind the delay in wheat sowing in the country include delay in sugarcane crushing, water shortage and seasonal closure of irrigation water canals, and fog and smog issues in the country.
The official also briefed the committee about the cost of production and support price of wheat during the last five years. The cost of production of wheat in Punjab increased from Rs 1045.62 to Rs 1222.9 per 40kg during the last five years (2012-13 to 2017-18). The cost of wheat production increased from Rs 1040.62 up to Rs 1133.63 per 40kg during last five years in Sindh.
He further told the committee that in India, 26 commodities are currently covered under the support price mechanism. "In India price of per urea bag is INR264 equal to Rs 464, while in Pakistan price of per bag of urea is Rs 1408," he said, adding that price of DAP per bag in India is INR1235 which is equal to Rs 2136.55, while in Pakistan DAP per bag price is Rs 2945.
Chairman Akhuwat Organization Dr Amjad Saqib also briefed the committee about the working of the organization and loans provided to small farmers. Senators Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Gul Bashra, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan and Hamza, and Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan attended the meeting.
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