If the government wants to achieve wheat production target of 24 million tons, it will have to announce its support price ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 650 per 40 kg as soon as possible to bring more area under its cultivation, official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday.
They said that gradual increase in prices of DAP and urea have compelled the growers to use much less input than the desired quantity. "The growers are at present applying 5 bags of urea and one of DAP instead of two, which is badly affecting the yield," sources said.
The price of DAP in the domestic market ranges Rs 1450 to Rs 1500 per 50 kg, and urea is being sold at Rs 650 per 50 kg bag. "If the government fixes attractive support price, it would encourage the farmers to have balanced use of fertilisers", sources said. They added that with high cost of production, the growers are reluctant to have balanced use of fertilisers. That leads to low yield of the crop as compared to the target set for the next crop by the government.
According to an estimate, the area under wheat in Punjab is 2.6 percent (1.2 million acres) less than last year, while in Sindh it is 2 percent less. Sources said that the government might miss the production target of wheat for 2007-08 because of reduction in area under cultivation, late sowing of wheat due to late harvesting of sugarcane, and unbalanced use of inputs. They said that in February and March, 4 and 0.6 million tons imported wheat would arrive at Karachi ports. About 1.6 million tons imported wheat has already arrived.