The government has decided to export 5 million tonnes of wheat in 2007 through the private sector, announced Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, at a press conference held here on Thursday. He said that the decision was taken at a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
As the country is expected to be surplus in wheat this year, therefore, it has also been decided to allow its export through sea and land routes to all countries including India. But no subsidy would be given to the exporters", he stressed.
Continuing he said, "In this respect, the Indian government has floated international tender to buy wheat. This year we have successfully achieved the wheat production target of 22.5 million tonnes and it seems that we will exceed the target by a considerable margin", the minister said.
He highlighted that the wheat crop area has increased from 8.355 million hectares in 2005-06 to 8.420million hectares in 2006-07. He told the journalists that the country is going to export wheat after 50 years.
He explained that the factors that led to the record production of wheat include increase in minimum support price from Rs 415 last year to Rs 425 per 40 kg this year. The subsidy of billions of rupees on the import and production of DAP and other phosphatic and potassic fertilisers, the adoption of good agricultural practices (GAP) by the farmers and also the good weather conditions.
He said that the government believes in farmer-friendly policy. He disclosed the government has given as a toll free number to farmers to make calls against any injustice by the dealers. Besides, payments would be made to the farmers within 48 hours.
He hoped that due to record production, the price of wheat flour in the local market would be low. "The prices of our wheat flour in the local market are less than any other country of the region like India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Dubai for the last two 2 years", he emphasised.