FCA fixes Kharif crop production targets, reviews Rabi crop performance
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Food Security and Research Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan said that government was determined to safeguarding the growers’ rights by introducing agriculture friendly policies. Federal minister stated this at a meeting with Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) Thursday to review the performance of Rabi crops 2014-15 and fixed production targets for Kharif crops 2015-16.
FCA fixed the sugarcane cultivation targets at 1,140 thousand hectares to produce 68,035 thousand tons of sugarcane during the Kharif season 2015-16.
The rice production target for current season was fixed at 6,902 thousand tons by cultivating the crop over an area of 2,836 thousand hectares whereas the maize production target was set at 4,609 thousand tons for Kharif season.
The Committee also fixed Moong pulse crop production for the crop season 2015-16 at 102 thousand tons to fulfill the domestic requirements of the country as well as for export.
The Committee reviewed the performance of Rabi crops 2014-15 and production plan for Kharif crops 2015-16 and also discussed the position of supply of agricultural inputs for the Kharif crop 2015-16.
The Committee was informed that wheat production for 2014-15 was estimated at 25.03 million tons from an area of 9.17 million hectares, whereas the gram crop production was estimated around 429.9 thousand tons from an area of 959.5 thousand hectares.
The production achievements of other crops such as maize, chilies and Masoor pulse were also discussed in the meeting.
The committee was informed that irrigation water availability position for current Kharif season would be satisfactory and the anticipated rainfall would be on optimal level except in some areas of Sindh.
The committee was informed that certified seed availability has increased during the Kharif season. The representative of State Bank of Pakistan informed that allocations of institutional credit for agriculture had substantially increased.
The committee also noted with relief that supply of pesticides and herbicides would be satisfactory for 2015-16 Kharif season.
Later addressing a press conference, Sikandar Hayat Bosan said that globally the commodity prices witnessed downward trend which put negative impact on local farmers adding that policies be introduced for reducing the input costs.
He informed that all major crops witnessed increase in their production besides fruit exports of to Eurpeon Union (EU) countries also posted significant increase.
He said that about 3.5 million tons of kinnow as compared to the exports of 2.15 million tons of last year whereas mango exports crossed 92 thousand tons during the last season.
He said that potato production also registered boost during the season and the government has decided to export about 125,000 tons for better return to the farmers.
The Provincial Agriculture Departments, Pakistan Meteorological Department, State Bank of Pakistan, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL), National Fertilizer Development Centre (NFDC) and senior officers of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research attended the meeting.
Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Director General, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and heads of Ministry’s attached departments such as Agriculture Policy Institute, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Department of Plant Protection, Federal Water Management, Pakistan Oilseed Development Board, SUPARCO and PASSCO also participated in the meeting.
