Area and production targets fixed for oilseed crops may not be achieved as September/October canal closure in southern Punjab hit the crops badly. The situation becomes more crucial in the areas where underground water is brackish.
However, water situation in the wake of recent rains is satisfactory throughout the country, which may bring more area under Canola and Sunflower crops, sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday.
They said Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB) had fixed production Canola target at 172.75 thousand tons on 151.76 thousand hectares during the year 2007-08.
They said 94 demonstration plots of Canola have been planned throughout the country during the period. Out of these demonstration plots, 62 would be in Punjab, 24 in Balochistan and 8 in NWFP. POBD is promoting Canola and Sunflower cultivation through electronic and print media as well as agriculture extension field staff. Technical literature is being provided to the growers free of cost, they added.
They said promotional efforts include field days, provision of improved production technologies and oilseed literature to growers, planting of demonstration plots and provision of quality seed etc.
They said another way to increase cultivation of oilseed crops is to attract small farmers (5 to 12.5 acres of land) to grow oilseeds through provision of inputs like seed, fertilisers, irrigation water and credit because these farmers have low financial capacity.
They said a quantity of 549 tons quality Canola seed would be available for the Rabi crop during 2007-08, as it is essential to get higher yield to enhance production by 10-20 per cent. They said All Pakistan Solvent Extractor's Association (APSEA) has announced a minimum procurement price of Rs 850 per 40-kg for Canola crop during 2007-08.
The project would be executed in collaboration with Agricultural Groups for the promotion of traditional and non-traditional oilseed crops in the province, they added. They said farmers are reluctant to grow oilseed crops because of the non-existent definite procurement system for oilseeds. While an efficient system of procurement promotes production which attracts buyers.
They said cultivation of oilseed crops is essential for steady supply of edible oil and to reduce imports. Edible oil is the fifth largest import item and its share in total imports is 3.6 per cent, which was 5.3 per cent a decade ago.
As a whole, Pakistan spends around Rs 50 billion per annum on export of edible oil. The country imports palm oil from Malaysia, Norway, Singapore and South Korea and soybean oil from Malaysia, Argentina, Singapore and Switzerland.
They said cultivation of sunflower has the potential to reduce the import of edible oil by 30 per cent along with Canola provided there is focus on increasing area under cultivation of these two important non-traditional crops.
Per acre yield can be increased by introducing hybrids, early maturing hybrids, hybrids resistant to insects, pests and diseases, availability of other inputs such as fertilisers, irrigation etc and adoption of modern technology, they concluded.