The Punjab government has saved Rs55 billion in a month through effective wheat strategy, another Rs2 billion have also been saved by financial discipline.
Punjab Chief Minister has decided to increase wheat quota of major cities including Lahore and Rawalpindi. The second meeting of the cabinet standing committee on wheat was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister in which the release policy, issuance of quota, existing reserves and demand of wheat were reviewed.
Punjab Chief Minister said that Punjab being the agricultural province is following the policy of self-sufficiency in wheat production. The Punjab government has saved Rs55 billion in a month through effective wheat strategy, another Rs2 billion have also been saved by financial discipline.
The chief minister directed that the farmers should be made aware of the use of high-yielding seeds of wheat, adding that the supply of flour to the public should not be interrupted. Secretary and Director Food briefed about the current position of wheat reserves and requirements.
Federal ministers Raja Muhammad Basharat, M. Mohsin Laghari, Sardar Husnain Bahadur Dareshk, Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi, Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbul, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Secretaries of Food, Agriculture, Finance and former president Bank of Punjab Hamesh Khan were also present in the meeting.
The most populated province of Punjab provides the largest share in national agricultural production. Agriculture offers 19% of the GDP and gives employment to 48% of the population. It contributes in provision of raw materials to major industries; textile, leather, rice processing, edible oil, sugar and various food processing industries. Pakistan’s total export has a three fourth share of agriculture and 60% of this share comes from Punjab. Over years, Punjab has tried to meet the challenges of food security.
Punjab becomes the second largest province making 25.9% of the country’s total land, with its area of 20.63 million hectares. Land utilization status is accessible for 86% of the aggregate territory; while 14% land stays unreported. Another 14% of the area is not available for agriculture due to either being totally fertile or being occupied by infrastructure consequently only 72% of the land is available for cropping. 10.81 million hectares (53%) is a net sown area; an area that is cultivated at least once and year. 9% of the land is categorized as current fallow; an area that is not used for cultivation during a year. 8% land is marked as culturable waste which means an area that is not cultivated for more than three years and is a part of cultivated area.
Originally published at Dunya News