Muhammad Luqman

Punjab is close to achieving its wheat cultivation target for the current year, according to officials of the provincial agriculture department. “About 99 percent of the target area in the province is now under wheat cultivation,” said Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Director General of the Punjab Agriculture Department. Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said the Crop Reporting Directorate had reported wheat sowing on 98 to 99 percent of the targeted 16.5 million acres. “Within the next few days, 100 percent of the sowing target is expected to be achieved,” he added.

Naveed said that all agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, were made available in abundance during the sowing season to facilitate farmers. He further noted that a zero-tolerance policy was being enforced against counterfeit pesticides and fertilizers.  To incentivize wheat cultivation, the Punjab government is organizing wheat production competitions in which farmers achieving higher per-acre yields will receive cash prizes worth millions of rupees, along with tractors.

At the provincial level, the first prize is an 85-horsepower tractor, the second a 75-horsepower tractor, and the third a 60-horsepower tractor. At the district level, the first prize is Rs1 million, second Rs0.8 million, and third Rs0.5 million. Agriculture experts say weather conditions are currently very conducive for the wheat crop in Punjab, as temperatures are gradually decreasing in line with the crop’s requirements.

“So far, the weather is favorable for the cereal crop, but it is difficult to predict with certainty how the weather and other circumstances will unfold in the coming days,” said Dr Anjum Ali Buttar, consultant at the Punjab Agriculture Department. He confirmed that wheat had been sown across most of the targeted area in Punjab. However, some areas where sugarcane is still standing have not yet been made available for wheat cultivation. “Hopefully, wheat sowing will be completed in these areas as well, as sugarcane crushing is now in full swing across the province,” Dr Buttar said.

He noted that the optimal sowing window in Punjab runs from November 1 to November 30 each year, though circumstances can sometimes alter this slightly. Dr Buttar also expressed confidence that the province will meet this year's target of 22 million tons.

Despite the optimistic outlook from officials, many farmers remain skeptical about the returns on wheat cultivation in light of their experience over the past two years. “We are not sure the government will ensure the announced wheat price this year. Farmers were denied a fair return last year,” said Khalid Hussain Baath, Chairman of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said the government announced a price of Rs3,500 per 40kg without considering increased input costs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds. Moreover, he stressed that the government must ensure the market price does not fall below Rs3,500 at harvest time.

“Poor harvests coupled with price crashes have made wheat cultivation a loss-making activity in the province,” Baath added. He urged the government to ensure wheat procurement this year to help stabilize prices, which he said typically collapse due to cartel-like behavior by the private sector, especially the flour mills.

Credit: INP-WealthPk