The government has launched "Grow more wheat" campaign to encourage the farmers to enhance wheat production to fulfil domestic requirements and also resume its export for strengthening the national economy. Number of steps have been taken to inspire the growers to pay more attention towards wheat sowing which has been greatly suffered due to non-availability of required irrigation water. The wheat support price has already been increased by Rs 400 per 40 kg for the new crop, registering a significant increase of Rs 50 as compared to the previous years' price, which is likely to encourage the farmers to grow wheat extensively.
Inaugurating the "Grow more wheat" campaign, Food and Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan said, "we are also taking appropriate steps to resolve the natural resource degradation issues which mainly arise as a result of immense pressure to grow more for domestic needs and for augmenting the exports."
Bosan said, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was fully alive to take appropriate steps to enhance wheat production as he was taking keen interest in the development of agriculture sector.
"Our goals include food security, enhanced productivity and developing agriculture as an export-oriented industry and it will be ensured that the natural resources like land and water are exploited in a sustainable manner," he added.
The Minister further said the government was undertaking steps to support the domestic agricultural sector and it was already working on various policy options and strategies to improve and sustain the performance of agriculture sector.
The necessary elements for productivity enhancement including availability of improved seed, ample quality of fertilisers, field implements and development of credit lines for the farmers were being ensured to facilitate the farmers, he added.