The federal government has fixed wheat procurement target of 0.7 million tonnes for the Sindh province, official sources in the Food Ministry told Business Recorder on Tuesday. The province was assigned target in a meeting held at Islamabad recently. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal chaired the meeting while the representatives of four provinces attended the meeting.
He said that the federal government had announced a procurement price of Rs 950 per 40 kg in view of that the farmers cultivated more wheat. It is hoped that the crop will be bumper one, he said, adding that the government has fixed a target of 25 million tonnes for wheat production this year.
The official said that Balochistan was assigned to procure 0.2 million tons of wheat as crop in Naseerabad is said to be very good. Punjab will procure 3.5 million tons, Passco 1.5 million tons, however, Sindh province will procure at least 0.7 million tons and maximum 1.2 million tons this year.
He said letters have been issued to all deputy-directors food for setting up of procurement centres in all the districts before the end of February. He claimed that the growers would not face hardships during the procurement process. He said the procurement centres would start operations from March 1. "Sindh requires 1.5 million tons of wheat annually and the procurement target will be achieved. The wheat procurement centres will also be established in remote areas to directly buy the commodity from farmers," he added.
He said there would be no shortage of wheat flour in the province this time, as the Sindh province would be provided with 0.6 tonnes of imported wheat. He said the provincial government would continue buying wheat till the lifting of last grains from the fields. He hoped that after the successful procurement of wheat, the prices of flour will also be reduced and the poor people will get relief.