ISLAMABAD, Oct 26 (APP):Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday said that the government had set a wheat support price at Rs4,500 per 40 kilogrammes to ensure fair returns to farmers, strengthen food security and build strategic reserves of the staple commodity in the country.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said that the government planned to increase strategic wheat reserves to 06 million metric tonnes from the previous level of 4.5 million metric tonnes to help maintain price stability and ensure the availability of wheat in the country.
He said the indicative price had been finalized after extensive consultations with stakeholders, including farmer associations and provincial governments, with the objective of ensuring that farmers received a fair price for their produce while safeguarding the country’s food security.
Rana Tanveer said the proposed price was close to the landed cost of imported wheat, estimated at Rs4,500 to Rs4,600 per 40 kilogrammes, arguing that domestic procurement at a comparable price would be preferable to spending public money on imports.
He said the government had become concerned over rising wheat prices and the difficulties arising from the previous two years’ procurement arrangements, which had affected farmers’ returns and the country’s ability to maintain adequate strategic stocks.
The minister said deregulation had created challenges in the wheat sector, with farmers unable to obtain appropriate prices for their produce in some instances. The situation had also contributed to the need for wheat imports, despite the crop’s critical importance as a staple food.
He said the government was seeking to address these shortcomings by strengthening strategic reserves and adopting a pricing approach that would support farmers and promote stability in the domestic market.
The minister noted that agriculture was a devolved subject, with primary responsibilities resting with the provinces, limiting the federal government’s direct intervention. However, he said food security remained a national responsibility requiring coordination among the federal and provincial governments.
Highlighting the broader agricultural situation, Rana Tanveer said Pakistan had achieved surpluses in several crops, including rice, maize and potatoes, reflecting the sector’s production potential. He said the country had recorded a rice surplus of around 06 million metric tonnes in the previous year and had taken measures to facilitate exports.
Meanwhile, the country had a surplus of about 1.2 million metric tonnes of sugar this year, adding that the government was managing the situation to maintain market stability.
The minister said the government had introduced several agricultural policies to improve production and food security, including national agricultural, seed, biotechnology and olive policies. Measures had also been taken against companies involved in supplying fake or substandard seeds.
He said the government was working to address constraints in the livestock sector, particularly foot-and-mouth disease, which had restricted export opportunities, and was pursuing disease-free zones to improve the sector’s international market access.
Rana Tanveer stressed that rising input costs, seed-related challenges and growing food security concerns were affecting countries worldwide, making it essential for Pakistan to strengthen domestic agricultural production and ensure the availability of essential food commodities.
He said the government’s wheat pricing and reserve-building measures were aimed at protecting farmers’ interests, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring a stable supply of the country’s staple food. He said that sufficient wheat storks were available to tackle with the local requirements and warned that strict action to be taken against those involved in artificial price hike.
President Paksitan Kissan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar expressed optimism that the government’s wheat support price decision will encourage farmers to expand cultivation, improve crop output and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
This initiative will contribute to an estimated 10 to 15 per cent increase in wheat cultivation during current season, he said and expressed the confidence that Pakistan could be in a position to export wheat next year.
He said that the support prices were essential to restore farmers’ confidence, improve returns on investment and ensure sustainable wheat production, particularly after farmers faced inadequate returns over the past two to three years, contributing to reduced supply and higher market prices.
He also urged the need for introducing climate smart agriculture practices in order to preserve natural resources including water, soil and land fertility to maintain food safety and security in the country as well as protecting the interest of the farmers.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
