ISLAMABAD: The country has sufficient availability of basic food commodities as the production of sugarcane, rice, maize, mung beans, and onion is estimated to be highest ever this year, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhr Imam said on Friday.

In a statement, Mr Imam said the government has formed a high-level national price monitoring committee to keep a close eye on the availability and price stability of essential food items.

Sugarcane production is estimated at 87.67 million tonnes which is 8 per cent higher than that of last year, while rice production is estimated at 8.84m tonnes, reflecting 5pc higher than that of last year.

Monitoring panel set up to keep an eye on price stability

Similarly, maize production is estimated at 9.0m tonnes, and mung bean production estimated at 268,000 tonnes from an area of 295,000 hectares showing an increase of 27pc and 31pc in area and production, respectively, over the last year. At the same time, the production of onion has also been the highest ever at 2.4m tonnes, he said.

“This year under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan has achieved the highest ever production of sugarcane, rice, maize, mung beans, and onion. The federal government is paying special attention to enhance production of main food commodities in the country,” Mr Imam said.

The government has allocated Rs277bn under the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Emergency Programme. Moreover, the government has provided over Rs50bn for fertiliser, seed, and pesticide subsidies. The ‘Kisaan Card’ and relief on agricultural credit mark-up have also supported investments in farm production.

“These timely initiatives have helped generate all time record production of many commodities,” he asserted.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2021