Lahore: According to Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Food Security and Research, Pakistan is moving towards stopping the import of agricultural commodities following effective government measures.
He said Pakistan’s food demand grew due to population growth while visiting the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday.
“According to him, we have streamlined the procurement of wheat and ensured farmers are rewarded for their labor by raising the wheat support price from Rs1,400 per 40kg to Rs1,800 per 40kg in addition to providing subsidies when it comes to wheat flour to consumers.”
In Pakistan, the consumption of wheat flour is 108 kg per person per year, according to figures cited. The government imported three million tonnes of wheat this year even though wheat production was well above 1.5 million metric tons, Cheema explained.
“An integrated dashboard would keep track of both the storage condition and demand for food, as well as the supply of food as well”, he said.
“A magistrate controls the prices in every market,” he said.
A farmer’s convention will take place on June 30, 2021, to solicit input from Prime Minister Imran Khan on policy formulation.
As for the government’s commitment to maintaining a balance in prices of produce, he reaffirmed that the government was committed to ensuring fair prices for consumers, producers, and industry.
In his remarks to the business community, he predicted that Pakistan would have plenty of agricultural raw material for the next seven years.
A major shift in the country’s economy will lead to more profitable farming that is supported by government-built warehouses to make rural areas more efficient as well as interest-free loans for cold storage systems.
“In addition to palm tree planting, the coast is also being dotted with them. Three million new palm trees will be planted so that the country can meet its palm oil needs”, he declared.
As part of the government’s efforts to increase olive production, the SAPM explained that money of Rs8 billion will be allocated to farmers to produce high-quality olives in the next financial year.
To reach eight million tonnes of maize production, comprehensive measures are being taken as 3.2 million tonnes of maize are currently produced within the country.
Moreover, it has been estimated that cotton output will be nine million bales this year with a budget of Rs4 billion also earmarked for enhancing cotton production.
Source: Tribune
