Wednesday 18 February 2009

Govt. wheat procurement from upcoming crops set at 6.5m tons

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has set a target of wheat procurement from the upcoming crops at 6.5 million tons, which needed Rs200 billion financing.

Federal Minister for food and agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal presides over the second session of Agriculture Task Force here, which was attended by Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin, Federal Ministers, Naveed Qamar, Manzoor Watto, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Federal State Minister for economic affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar besides food ministers of all the four provinces and high officials.

Following the meeting, Federal Minister, Nazar Muhammad Gondal told a news conference that this was for the first time in the history of the country such a big target of wheat procurement has been set, which envisages Punjab procuring 3.5 million tons, Pasco 1.5 million tons, Sindh 1.2 million tons, Frontier 0.3 million tons and balochistan 0.5 million tons.

He said that the government would ensure payment to the growers at Rs950 per maund of wheat. He said that the country’s requirements stood at 2.3 million tons, while the wheat production this year was expected at 2.5 million tons, as it has been cultivated on over 6 percent more area. Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that private sector would not be allowed to import wheat.

source : jang.com.pk

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