Ministry of National Food Security and Research has moved a proposal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet to seek approval for export of 3.1 million tonnes of surplus wheat by providing a $105 per tonne subsidy. This was disclosed by Secretary MNFSR Dr Muhammad Hashim Popalzai while briefing to Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research. The committee met with Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair here on Friday.
The secretary further said that surplus wheat stock of over 10 million tonnes is available with the public sector and all stakeholders have consented to export 3.1 million tonnes including 2 million tonnes by Punjab, 0.6 million tonnes by PASSCO and 0.5 million tonnes by Sindh.
Dr Popalzai said the ECC meeting scheduled on Tuesday next will consider the surplus wheat exports summary, and may allow exports till April 1, 2019 with further a two-month extension in the exports period. The federal government and provinces would share subsidy equally, he added.
The committee was further informed that wheat crop sowing in Pakistan till November 15 has been on an area of 0.362 million hectares against a target of 8.833 million hectares which is 4.098 percent of the targeted area. The committee observed that about twelve days of sowing are left and sowing has been very low owing to water shortages in the country.
At the start of the food year on May 01, 2018, wheat availability was 31.45 million tonnes including production of 25.51 million tonnes and leftover stock of 5.942 million tonnes. The current wheat stock with the public sector included 6.193 million tonnes with Punjab 1.75 million tonnes, Sindh 0.212 million tonnes, KP 0.054 million tonnes, Balochistan 1.837 million tonnes, PASSCO. The current wheat stock is 10.046 million tonnes compared to 10.294 million tonnes last year.
Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) on October 11, 2018 decided to maintain the area and production targets for wheat sowing 2018-19 at the level of last year''s achievements. The reasons behind this decision were significant surplus wheat stocks over 10 million tonnes with the public sector and shortage of irrigation water. During the meeting of FCA, IRSA has reported around 38% shortage of irrigation water during Rabi 2018-19. The targets of area and production fixed by the FCA are as; Punjab has to cover 6.66 million hectares to produce 19.607 million tonnes, Sindh to cover 1.15 million hectares to produce 3.582 million tonnes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to cover 0.7607 million hectares to produce 1.383 million tonnes and Balochistan to cover 0.4 million hectares to produce 0.935 million tonnes. Thus the country has to cover 8.971 million hectares to produce 25.507 million tonnes wheat.
The committee was further informed that most area of Rawalpindi Division (0.239 million hectares) is reported to be under cultivation. Due to late harvesting of paddy and picking of cotton, wheat crop sowing is slow. Furthermore, due to late paddy harvesting and shortage of water, the sowing process is slow in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.
The KP has conveyed only crop target wherein it has been mentioned that due to development of Gomal Zam Canal, area in DI Khan and Tank is expected to be increased.
The chairman IRSA informed the committee that Met department has forecast a 57 percent shortfall in rain for Sindh during the Rabi season. The committee was also given details about wheat seed varieties available across the country. The committee asked the ministry to furnish information of public and private sector seed outlets in Punjab and Sindh. The committee was told by the minister that Prime Minister''s Task Force on Agricultural Sector Reforms has been working actively and soon progress will be announced.
Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah briefed the committee on cotton while saying that as of 1st November, 7,706,331 bales of cotton have arrived. The number for last year was 8,134,404 bales and this year there is a percentage change of -5.26 percent, which will be minimised once all cotton bales arrive.
The committee observed that there is low investment in seed quality in Pakistan and measures should be taken to give incentives to international companies to invest in Pakistan. The ministry told the committee that the rules of the Seed Act and the Plant Breeders Act have been formulated and once a registry is in place, matter will be taken up with international companies.
PASSCO informed the committee that in the light of minutes of the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee held on October 19, 2017 at Karachi, deputy commissioners Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Noushero Feroze and Shikarpur were asked to identify the state land in their districts for storage of wheat. Only a 4 x acres piece of land was identified in Umarkot which was found suitable for storage of wheat/ construction of godowns. However, presently it is under illegal occupation of some influential locals.
The situation was brought into the notice of DC Umarkot who directed AC Umarkot for retrieval of possession of state land and hand it over to PASSCO. Response from the AC Umar Kot is awaited.
On November 16, 2018, Secretary Food, Food Department Sindh, Karachi and DC Umar Kot have again been requested for early acquisition/ possession of land and handing it over to PASSCO for storage of wheat. In addition, field staff of PASSCO is in constant touch with district administration of Umarkot but no positive development has been made in this regard so far.
The meeting was also attended among others by Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi, Senator Gul Bashra, minister for national food, security and research, chairman IRSA, managing director PASSCO and representatives of provincial agricultural departments.
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