ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Mr. Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that the Government is committed to achieve the highest ever wheat procurement target of 6.5 million tons at any cos in the year 2008-2009. The Minister said that according to first estimates released by the provincial crop reporting services wheat crop sown area is 9.053 million hectares which indicates 6% improvement against the last year achievement of 8.54 million hectares and in this way we have also surpassed this year target of 8.61 million hectares by 5%.

He said that it is because of farmer-friendly and prudent policies followed by the present government that we are hoping a good wheat crop. “The timely announcement of and substantial increase in wheat support price to 950 per 40 kg, fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 32 billion to cap the DAP price at Rs. 3050 and “Grow more wheat” campaign on the initiative of federal government were the major steps proved very successful for increasing the sowing area and yield of wheat crop”, The Minister said.

The Minister said that the Government is fully committed to ensure that the wheat growers must get the announced wheat support price. He said that for this purpose along with public sector we are also encouraging private sector to procure wheat from growers and State Bank of Pakistan has advised the commercial banks to provide financial facility of 90:10 to the private sector.

The Minister said that there needs a close cooperation and coordination between Federal and provincial Governments to achieve announced procurement target. The Minister said that 1.50 million tons of wheat will be procured by PASSCO, 3.50 million tons by Punjab, 1.20 million tons by Sindh, 0.25 million tons by NWFP and 0.05 million tons by Balochistan.-SANA

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