ISLAMABAD: After several weeks long inter-departmental discussion, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal Cabinet is going to take a final decision this week to increase minimum wheat support price, said a senior official of the National Food Security and Research.
According to the official, the National Food Security and Research ministry has proposed 25 percent increase to ECC and suggested to fix minimum wheat support.price at Rs 1745 per 40 kg.
The growers are desperately waiting for the increase in wheat support price to have a clear idea as if the next crop will be of any financial gain for them.
The delay in announcement of minimum wheat support price has already made future plan for the farmers bit confusing.
Since sowing season commences from October 15, delay in announcement has already started to give the farming community a disappointing message.
Haji Ibrahim, a farmer from Rahimyar Khan, deplored non-seriousness of the PTI government towards announcement of minimum wheat support price. He said the announcement for upward revision in minimum wheat support should have been made much before to help the farmers workout a better future plan to enhance productivity of the crop and put an end to the country’s dependency on import to meet the local requirement of the commodity.
Haji Ibrahim said the policy-makers,’ attitude of delaying key decisions like announcement of minimum wheat support price was putting the agriculture sector in complete disarray. He urged the government to take agriculture sector seriously to help the farmers enhance agricultural productivity.
Pakistan is at the lowest level in the region in agricultural productivity and its basic reason is the government’s apathy towards agriculture sector.
Haji Ibrahim demanded minimum Rs 1800 support price of wheat for the current season.
Rabia Sultan, director Farmers Association of Pakistan (FAP) and a progressive grower, is seriously concerned over delay in announcement of minimum wheat support.price.
Talking to NEWSMAN by phone from Lahore, Rabia Sultan said the government should make reasonable increase in minimum wheat support price.
Pakistan need around 26.76 million tons wheat for next year and production of this quantity is possible by inspiring the farming community to sow maximum area this year.
Last year, Pakistan could not achieve its target of 26 million tons of wheat production due to unexpected rains during harvesting season. This resulted in bearish trend in wheat and wheat flour prices right from the beginging of harvesting season (March-April) 2020.
Although, the government took.various steps to.confrol.the wheat and its flour prices, but it remained non-productive due to open market mechanism.
In the open market, wheat rates of 40 kg have gone up to Rs 2245 and this has jacked up the wheat flour rates for the end buyers at Rs 65 a kg. The wheat flour prices can not be pulled back to some reasonable level like Rs 40 a kg if the domestic wheat production does not show some substantial growth over the last year production of around 24 million tons.
Keeping in.view these developments, the government should come up with a clear decision on minimum wheat support price without any further delay.