Crop Output May Be Close To 26 Million Tons Against

Crop Output May Be Close To 26 Million Tons Against The Target Of 26.46 Million

Crop Output May Be Close To 26 Million Tons Against The Target Of 26.46 Million: In 2018 Pakistan is expected to harvest a huge wheat crop of around 26 million tons during the current season despite lower acreage, water shortage and late sowing associated with marketing related issues of sugarcane and cotton crops. It will be the record output of wheat ever harvested in the country. This estimate is forecasted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (26 million tons) and United States Department of Agriculture (26.5 million tons).

Agriculture in Pakistan relies not only on rainfall but also on the water, which comes from melting of snow and ice. Fluctuating temperature and persistent water shortage are a source of concern for the farmers who fear that production might be hurt if the trend continues in the coming days. Despite 400,000 acres less plantation this year wheat crop is likely to be around the last year’s level stated Punjab Agriculture department official. While water shortage has been the concern but two timely rains during dry period helped a lot in mitigating adverse effects. Member from a Wheat Growers Association (WGA) agreed that no watering is required after 20^th of March.

Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) is a registered and recognized representative Trade Body of Flour Milling Industry having 915 flour mills member from all over the Pakistan. Former chairman of Pakistan Flour Mills Association said that it would be early to say anything about negative impact of warm weather on standing crop but high temperature can affect quality of wheat grain while endorsing a bright crop outlook. Shafiq Ur Rehman, a leading seed breeder from Punjab also said to media sources that healthy crop with good yields are expected across Punjab.

Wheat can be grown successfully under rain fed conditions

Another member from Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) said wheat is highly susceptible to heat stress. Wheat is a Rabi crop and sown almost throughout the country while Rabi season starts from October and normally ends in April. However, it has to be kept in mind that India is building Inflated Rubber Dam about 4 kilometers downstream of the Wullar Barrage in Held Kashmir that will obstruct the flow of water in future.