Achieving Wheat Target In Post-flood Era

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 14th Oct, 2022 ) :With most of wheat cultivation space in Sindh drowned within the flood water, the Federal and provincial governments have tightened belts to make sure well timed wheat cultivation and facilitate affected farmers.

Besides draining the flood water, the authorities are additionally planning subsidies for the farmers in provision of licensed wheat seed in addition to making certain agricultural inputs comparatively on cheaper charges within the calamity hit areas.

By the time, all obtainable sources have been mobilized to dewater lands for wheat sowing as even after dewatering, the land could take a while to prepare for cultivation.

Apparently assembly the wheat crop goal appears a huge activity at a time when on one hand two districts of South Punjab and over half of the agriculture land in Sindh was underneath the flood water. However, the authorities are optimistic to attain the goal on floor that this time land floor would have extra moisture on account of flood water.

“This year we have a target of producing 28 million tonne wheat to indigenously meet our needs and save much needed foreign exchange,” remarked Food Security Commissioner, Imtiaz Ali Gopang. “We are optimistic to meet this target as this year land moisture would provide better atmosphere for sowing wheat, pulses and oil seeds.” He mentioned the federal authorities can be devising a mechanism to facilitate farmers in flood affected areas with subsidies price round Rs 5 billion for provision of licensed and higher yielding wheat seed.

“The government has enhanced the wheat support price as well as endeavoring to minimize the impact of costly agricultural inputs,” Imtiaz Ali added. “Once the areas are dewatered, we can assume wheat sowing well in time and on more area.” Wheat is essentially the most vital meals crops amongst rice, sugarcane and maize and gives for nationwide meals safety. It is sown on a lot wider tract of land in Punjab and Sindh provinces as in contrast and different meals crops.

Officials at Sindh Agriculture Department Pakistan’s second largest wheat rising province regardless of devastating flood are optimistic to attain the goal of manufacturing 4.2 million tones wheat this 12 months.

Director General Agriculture Extension Sindh Hidayatullah Chhajro mentioned that Sindh has fastened the wheat manufacturing goal of 4.2 million tonnes from an space of 1.2 million hectares for the season.

“We are hopeful that land would be ready for wheat sowing by November 15,” Chhajro mentioned mentioning to all out efforts for clearing land from water so the sowing begins effectively in time.

“Expeditious dewatering of submerged areas to prepare land for wheat cultivation in flood-hit areas and proposed assistance package to farmers would hopefully yield the desired results,” he commented.

Farmers and growers have applauded the proposal of incentives for wheat growers in flood-hit areas that will additionally improve the wheat cultivation space.

“The under consideration package would help the flood marooned farmers encouraging them to bring more area under wheat cultivation,” remarked Abdul Wahab Qureshi, a farmer in Tando Allahyar district of Sindh province.

“We need immediate dewatering of the flood affected land to prepare it for wheat sowing. We hope better yield this time as if flood on one hand affects people, on the other hand it adds to land fertility,” Wahab mentioned.

Pakistan’s agriculture contributes round 24 % to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This sector is taken into account as spine of nationwide economic system because it employs nearly half of the labor drive straight or not directly with nation’s over 60 % inhabitants residing in rural areas.

Statistics present that in final season, the wheat manufacturing stood at round 26 million tones simply near our annual demand. The goal for the subsequent 12 months is round 28 million tones as required after calculation on foundation of per capita consumption.

According to official statistics as positioned earlier than National Assembly Standing Committee National Food Security and Research, the farmers in flood-hit areas would require greater than 205,000 tonnes of wheat seed. Similarly, they may additionally want subsidies in fertilizers and different inputs.

Other than the fertile and routine land, there’s chance that wheat can be cultivated on silt soil after 15 to twenty days of its dewatering.

Although the nation has handed by way of one more calamity within the type of flood that precipitated colossal damages to family and agricultural land, but the state of affairs wouldn’t be win-win for Pakistan by way of meals safety.

With our inhabitants rising on the price of over two %, throughout subsequent twenty years Pakistan would want way more wheat manufacturing to satisfy the meals necessities. Otherwise, we will be standing on the edge with concern of meals scarcity looming massive on countrymen.

It is excessive time that coverage makers focus the revolutionary strategies of accelerating per acre yield from the present agriculture land in addition to deliver extra land underneath cultivation. Provision of water for irrigation can be one other problem and it’s crucial to assemble extra water reservoirs to long run sustainability.