Sindh wheat crop to cross 3.7m tons mark

KARACHI: Wheat production in Sindh is likely to exceed 3.7 million tons target and finally end up somewhere near four million tons.
The province produced 3.6 million tons of wheat last year.

The estimates have been revised by agriculturists after reports that some more areas in Badin and other districts have come under wheat cultivation for Rabi crop now being harvested.

Sources in the agriculture department confirmed on Monday that the condition of the wheat crop this year is fine and free of any virus attack. The lush green crop reported from major wheat growing areas reflects the high quality of produce with thick and healthy grain.

Secretary General of Sindh Abadgar Board Majid Nizamani contradicted the claim of excess crop and said if output exceeds 3.7 million tons, it would be a miracle. He, however, admitted that though the crop suffered from water shortage, favourable climate helped growers achieve a good crop.

Major wheat producing areas in Sindh are Naushehro Feroze, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Ghotki, Badin, Khairpur, and Sanghar, etc.

The food department will procure 1.5 million tons of wheat from growers at official price of Rs950 per maund. Passco will procure an equal quantity from all provinces.

The agriculture department is providing wheat thrashers to growers on 50 per cent subsidy which helps in quick disposal of harvests. Wheat is harvested through thrashing machines quickly, packed in bags and dispatched to godowns or market. This saves growers from post-harvest losses that might be caused by rain or pests like rats etc.

The agriculture department has given go-ahead to 5,000 growers selected through a draw to purchase subsidised tractors and get subsidy of Rs300,000 on larger ones and Rs200,000 on small tractors after submitting a copy of the pay order paid to the dealer.Under the programme, about 3,755 tractors would be given to farmers having less than 25 acres of land and 1,245 tilling machines would be given to farmers having more than 25 acres.

Growers already having a tractor were not eligible for the draw.

The department received a total of 13,719 applications for the subsidised tractors. District-wise quota of tractors distribution include 417 tractors each for growers in Nawabshah and Khairpur, Badin 400, Mirpurkhas 333 and Sanghar 300.

The agriculture department has taken steps to prevent sale and purchase of subsidised tractors.

The keys of the subsidised tractors would not be handed to growers unless they produce registration papers showing the tilling machine in their name.