Ministry of National Food Security and Research(MNFS&R) has formulated National Food Security Policy envisaging measures to introduce changes in the country's cropping system and reducing area under rice and sugarcane crops for cultivation of high value crops, such as oilseeds, pulses, soybean, horticulture crops and fodder, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
Ministry of Textile Industry has also proposed that provinces should stop granting permission for setting up new sugar mills in the cotton growing areas that led to a decline in cotton plantation. The sources said increase in number of sugar mills with enhancement in crushing capacity of existing mills in major cotton growing areas has resulted in 22 percent reduction in cotton areas over the last 10 years.
"The support price for procurement of imported food crops such as pulses and oilseeds may be introduced to promote import substitution rather than subsidizing export of wheat and sugar," the sources quoted MNFS&R as suggesting in its National Food Security Policy which is yet to be considered by the federal cabinet. The sources said, major reduction in cotton growing areas has been witnessed in Punjab where cotton area has declined by 26 per cent over the same period.
Official reports revealed that growing number of sugar mills and increase in the crushing capacity in the existing sugar mills resulted in reduction of cotton area in Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh etc. The cotton production in Mianwali will also be affected by installation of new sugar mills. The MNFS&R maintained that policies relating to pricing and subsidies of agriculture inputs and outputs need more in-depth treatment to ensure competitiveness of agriculture sector at national and international levels. Cotton area has also been squeezed by popularization of maize and potato crops in the districts of Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Khanewal.
The sources said both the federal and provincial governments' are concerned about payment to sugarcane growers' far less than the approved rate of Rs 182 per 40kg. Prime Minister and chief ministers are continuously receiving complaints from growers' representatives and ministers that sugarcane growers' are not being paid as per the announced prices.
The country witnessed 30 percent decline in cotton production during the year 2015-16 due to abnormal weather conditions, seed quality, pests, diseases and low prices. Cotton is grown mostly in Punjab and Sindh provinces, with the former accounting for 79 percent and the latter 20 percent of the nation's land area of cotton cultivation.
MNFS&R, in its drafted National Food Security Policy has argued that the policies of successive governments' to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains (wheat and rice) and sugar have been implemented successfully. As a result, there have been surpluses in wheat, rice and sugar in the country since the last six years.
The high cost of production, the large international stock build-up and reduced international prices make it almost impossible for Pakistani farmers to compete in the international market. The FAO "Food Outlook" report further indicates that prices in the international markets will remain depressed and lead to the introduction of changes in production systems.
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