ISLAMABAD, March 18: National Assembly was told on Friday that the Federal Food and Agriculture Ministry never recommended to impose ban on the inter-provincial transportation of wheat. “The ministry never supported any such ban,” Parliamentary Secretary for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Rajab Ali Baloch told the house in response to a supplementary question. The parliamentary secretary foresaw bumper wheat crop this year owing to friendly weather and the support price set by the government at Rs400 per 40kg. “An additional 1.5 per cent area than the last year, became under cultivation this year and a good crop is expected,” he said. He also assured the house to benefit the farmers with purchase of wheat in Sindh and Punjab provinces through Passco. To a supplementary question, he said, this year 193000 tonne certified seed was provided to farmers as compared to the last year’s 143000 tonne and there was no complaint of any seed deficiency from any part of the country.

Elaborating the strategy to achieve the wheat production targets, he told the house that the provinces were advised to micromanage the shortage of water as well as ensure free movement of wheat seed.

Availability of DAP and other fertilizers was fully ensured, 21 herbicides were brought on generic list and the cost of per acre application was reduced, he added.

Rajab Ali said availability of agriculture loans was made up to Rs85 billion and the mark up was reduced by the ZTBL from 14 per cent to nine per cent. Other banks were also advised to simplify and increase credit availability and accessibility to small farmers.—APP