June 3, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1424

LAHORE, June 2: The high hopes of the government for another bumper wheat crop have been dashed to the ground as there has been a 20-25 per cent reduced yield across the country with Punjab as the worst hit by a pest attack.

The government had placed the produce for 2002-03 at over 20 million tons and was expected over 16 million tons in Punjab, but the latest reports from various irrigated districts reveal that the Punjab yield is unlikely to touch even 14 million tons.

Various factors, including untimely rains, undermined the crop and resulted in the shrivelling of grain at an early stage but the crop was harshly affected by a sucking pest known as ‘taila’ that appeared during the early stage of the crop, but no remedial measures were taken to eliminate the pest. Many farmers have complained of ‘inadequate and ineffective guidance’ from the department concerned.

The produce in the rain-fed areas is, however, reported to be better as the pest stayed away from these regions, presumably because of weather related factors.

The experts in the public sector had based their assessment of the wheat crop on the performance of the growers during the past three years but ignored the fact that agriculture in Punjab, as indeed all over the world, is dependent on nature for growth. In case of a change in the sympathetic pattern of weather, extra care of crops needs to be taken. This basic requirement seems to have been totally ignored.

Meanwhile, the government is said to be at a loss as to how to come down from its high horse and accept realities. There has been no announcement of the crop size so far, although harvesting has been completed and cotton has replaced wheat in the fields.

Another aspect of the reduced crop is the failure of the provincial government’s procurement drive. Procurement offices are yawning and officials are requesting farmers to sell their produce to the government, but they are disinterested because they are receiving better price from the open market.

The government of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had taken special and elaborate measures to ensure that wheat growers receive a fair deal and they have no difficulty in selling their produce to the government.

Farmers had been pursuing procurement officials in the past and their need for ready cash to invest in the next crop was ruthlessly exploited by the officials, who forced them to sell much below the official rate. Open market also offered them a maximum of Rs260 per bag of 40 kg.

But the situation is totally different this year as market rate is ranging from Rs300 to Rs320 per bag and there is no dearth of takers, while selling to the government involves, notwithstanding the best intentions of the administration, numerous bottlenecks.

More evidence of favourable market conditions for farmers is available in the fact that floor mills that usually demand removal of restrictions from inter-district transportation of wheat are supporting imposition of restrictions. This has happened because of the reduced crop.