Intermittent rains and plenty of irrigation water has mostly proved a boon for crops, and the wheat production target of 20.2 million ton this season is likely to be achieved, despite the extended wet spell. An agronomist Muhammad Islam Gill told this, while talking to APP here on Thursday. He said there might have been a slight problem due to recent showers adding that in the areas, which experienced heavy rains and strong winds, wheat output may decline slightly, yet the target remains achievable, he added.
The province-wise or region-wise production target is as under: Punjab 16 million tons, Sindh 2.2 million tons, NWFP 1.08 million tons, Balochistan 0.66 million tons, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir State 0.11 million tons.
Meanwhile, the federal government has allowed the Punjab government to increase the support price beyond Rs 400 per 40 kg during its procurement campaign. It has been asked to purchase 3.5 million tons, three million tons for operational purposes and 0.5 million tons for reserve stocks.
The wheat stocks issued by the Centre so far include 2.223 million tons to flour mills, 22,400 tons to defence-related departments, Balochistan 1252 tons, AJK 29,793 tons, Sindh 98,000 tons, World Food Programme 19,739 tons and Northern Areas 18,910 tons.
Chief Minister Punjab has announced to launch the procurement campaign from April 1, for which 447 centres have been set up across the province. Under the 'sasta atta (subsidised flour) scheme', 7.775 million flour bags have been sold so far to needy families, said agriculture sources.
Meanwhile, the Multan Flour Mills Association has expressed deep concern over the supply of imported wheat which it claims is of inferior quality with unpalatable taste.