ISLAMABAD, May 7: The government is likely to miss the revised 22 million tons wheat target for the Rabi 2004-05 due to unexpected changes in the weather and intermittent rain during April-May — the full harvest season for Sindh and Punjab. Officials told Dawn on Saturday that the crop has been affected in some growing areas like Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawal Nagar, Sahiwal and Nawab Shah due to unexpected spell of rain. In some growing areas, the rain also delayed the harvest of the crop, which might result into damaging the standing crop, added officials.

The government had initially fixed wheat production at 20.2 million tons for Rabi 2004-05 but due to availability of timely rain and government policies, the target was revised upward to 22 million tons.

Elaborating further, the officials said, the government was creating awareness among the farmers about protecting their harvested crop through media so that to minimize the effect of rain. If the rain continued for the whole month of May 2005, the crop size would have to be lowered by 0.2 to 0.3 million tons, said the officials.

The current procurement position, was, however, on track, said officials and added Sindh was about to achieve 0.5 million tons of procurement target. Punjab and Passco might achieve the target of 2.7 million and 1.3 million tons, respectively up to the extended time of July next.

According to the officials, the government might, however, initiate the steps for the storage of grain in the public sector and the farmers so as to avoid further damage to the crop.

The market survey showed that the price of wheat ranges between Rs390 to Rs415 per 40kg. Last year, during this period, wheat price ranged between Rs360 for procurement to Rs450 in the open market. The wheat price was at present stable owing to the fact that crop size was much better and government has reserves of over 0.7 million tons in stock out of the imported wheat.

The procurement would be market-led activity distinguishing between guaranteed minimum price and procurement price variable dependent on market conditions. The officials said that the government was trying to bring down the price of wheat flour particularly in far flung areas of Balochistan and also in Karachi.

The export of wheat flour was allowed by the government subject to some regulatory duties and ban on export of wheat has not been lifted so far. Import of wheat was allowed without payment of duty subject to specification to be given by the Minfal.

The government is likely to release wheat to the flour mills on the basis of their capacity at the rate of Rs400 per 40kg. However, according to the officials, no decision was taken in this regard so far.