FCA sets wheat target of 25 mn tonnes for 2008-09

FCA sets wheat target of 25 mn tonnes for 2008-09

Updated at: 2058 PST, Tuesday, October 21, 2008 ISLAMABAD: The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA), on Tuesday reviewed food security in the country and set wheat target of 25 million tonnes for the year 2008-09. “The government has enhanced Wheat Support Price and provided subsidies on fertilizers with an aim to encourage farmers enhance per acre production,” Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL), Nazar Muhammad Gondal said while addressing a press conference after FCA meeting. Unveiling the targets for Rabi crops, he said, the government has set targets for Rabi crops including wheat, gram, potato, and onions as 25.0 million tonnes, 0.65 million tons, 6.20 million tonnes and 2 .0 million tons respectively. He said that government has decided to launch “Grow more wheat “ campaign in order to encourage the farmers to produce more wheat for their own benefit and for the prosperity of the country. He said that the government has already announced Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) of Rs.950 per 40 kg to encourage farmers enhance production of their crop. He said that there was no shortage of DAP as 0.89 million stock was already available in the country as against the consuming target of 0.61 million. Gondal further said that federal government in the financial year 2008-09 has earmarked Rs.250 billion specifically for the agriculture loans for the farmers. He added that under Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) five sub-committees have been set up to promote high valued crops including kitchen items of pulses and vegetables, livestock and fisheries and horticulture. MINFAL has also started a special development programme for small farmers at a cost of Rs. 8 billion and also allocated Rs.18 billion for efficient use of water for agriculture through drip and sprinkler irrigation. Gondal said that there was a demand of 2.9 million tons of Urea for Rabi crops and the government has made all arrangements for the availability of the required input. He added that there was requirement of 0.82 million tons of DAP for the Rabi crops and the government has arranged 0.990 million tons of DAP for the crops in the season. To a question, he said that the sugarcane production would be short of target, however, it would be more than sufficient to meet the country’s consumption. Highlighting the targets and achievements, the federal minister said, the cotton production target was set 14.1 million bales against which 12 million bales were achieved. Similarly 53 million sugarcane production was achieved against the target of 56.5 million tonnes 6.54 million tonnes rice was produced against the target of 5.72 million tonnes. The maize target was set as 3.28 million tonnes and 3.34 million was produced during the Kharif season.