Seed movement ban can unleash another wheat crisis
Islamabad: Despite announcing new wheat procurement price of Rs 950 per 40 kg to encourage growers, Pakistan may be moving towards another wheat crisis due to scarcity of water and a ban by government of Punjab on seed movement, Pakistan Economy Watch warned on Tuesday.
Government may miss target by one million tonnes
Government is already in process of revising wheat production target of 23.5 million tonnes for 2008-09 by .5 million tonnes due to around 40 per cent water shortage. The scarcity of fertilizer and other input costs is also a major concern. But, President of Pakistan Economy Watch, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that a ban on the movement of seed by government of Punjab may hit the targets badly.
Growers in Sindh start cultivation in the first half of October. Farmers in Mirpur Khas and Sanghar etc have already started sowing sub-standard seed due to non-availability of certified one. All the provinces rely on certified seed from Punjab. Some growers will use retained seeds which is not advisable.
The ban by Punjab is helping making of a crisis as some 65 to 70 percent growers rely on seed from Punjab and the ban should be lifted soon. The ban may push many to opt for other crops frustrating federal government efforts to become self-reliant as far as the staple is concerned.
861,000 hectare area assumed to be cultivated in the Rabi season may not be achieved, warned Dr. Murtaza Mughal. There was no ban before the government of Shahbaz Sharif and now a number of agencies including Food Department, Police and Special Branch are barring any movement. Government of Punjab has decided to issue permits for seed movement by so far no permit has been issued yet. Also, confusion prevails as to who will be issuing these permits, he said.
Frustrated growers can switch to other crops
He said that Pakistan requires a million tonnes of wheat seed per annum. Presently country is facing 50 per cent shortage. Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department is able to provide almost three lakh tonnes of certified seed. The same department is providing 34000 tonnes of cottonseed, 13000 tonnes of rice seed, 8000 tonnes of maize seed, 1000 tonnes of oilseed and seed for pulses etc. “The budget of this department should be enhanced to ensure green revolution,” said Dr. Murtaza Mughal.
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