THE wheat-sowing area is likely to increase by a few thousand hectares in Sindh this season, just like last year. In 2013-14, the cultivation target of 1.1m hectares was exceeded by 21,000 hectares.

The Sindh government has indicated the target of 1125,000 hectares for 2014-15 to the Federal Committee on Agriculture. This optimism is attributed to last year’s fixed support price of Rs1,250, which was based on per-acre production cost.

According to Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) leader Mahmood Nawaz Shah, the timing of the announcement of the support price matters the most every season. The Sindh government hasn’t fixed the price for wheat yet, while the chief minister wants to export surplus wheat. “The provincial government had increased the support price by Rs50 last year when most of the grain had already been procured by the food department.”

While the wheat-sowing season has started, rising fertiliser prices seem to be haunting growers. Prices of urea and DAP have increased substantially. Farmers ask why the federal government does not ensure a subsidy of Rs400 on a bag of DAP, as was promised by the federal finance minister in the last budget. With the advent of the wheat season, DAP prices have been raised to Rs3,600 per bag, says a growers’ representative Nabi Bux Sathio.

The government should fix the wheat support price at Rs1,400 per 40kg for this season to put farmers in a comfortable position, says SAB President Abdul Majeed Nizamani

SAB President Abdul Majeed Nizamani believes that the government should fix the wheat support price at Rs1,400 per 40kg for this season to put farmers in a comfortable position, since cotton and paddy prices were depressed.

Secondly, the sugarcane crop is already under pest attack and chances of lower per-acre productivity could not be ruled out altogether, he added. The cost of inputs is forcing growers to curtail their use, which will lead to a drop in per-acre yield.

A wheat grower is supposed to use 1.5 bags of DAP on an acre after sowing, or two NP bags after 21 days. Agriculture Research Director General Atta Soomro estimates that 50pc of productivity could be lost if these fertilisers are not used at all by farmers.

While fertiliser prices are still a vital issue for growers, water availability this season seems to be adequate, as both major national water storages were filled to capacity due to flooding this year. Only the normal 50,000 cusecs is being released from Tarbela dam, which feeds Sindh, says a Sukkur Barrage official.

“We expect to get the required supplies for wheat after sowing when it is most needed, as dams have attained optimum storage levels,” adds the official.

Cultivation of wheat is also normally delayed by late purchases of cane and sugarcane crushing by mills. So far, no sugar mill has started cane-crushing. That includes Matiari Sugar Mill, which was to start operations by October 18, according to its own announcement.

However, due to the forthcoming Diwali celebrations by non-Muslim labourers who mostly harvest the cane crop, the date for commencement of crushing is being adjourned for a week or so now.

The availability of wheat seed faces no issue at this point and its cultivation in the recently flooded katcha area would significantly improve the per-acre productivity.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, October 27th, 2014