LAHORE, Oct 6: The Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) has urged the government to adopt a ‘realistic policy’ on wheat to avoid recurrence of flour crisis next year.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, KBP Technical Adviser Muhammad Ibrahim said flour shortage was the result of inflated figures given by the government about wheat produce.

He said the government estimated that it would get 22.2 million ton wheat this year against the estimated consumption of 21.5 million ton, but policymakers increased the produce estimate by 1.32 million ton to raise GDP growth rate. He said the area under wheat crop was increased by one per cent, but policymakers increased wheat produce estimates by 10 per cent with ‘ulterior motives’.

Ibrahim said the government allowed export of wheat on the basis of its bumper crop estimates, but withdrew the permission after one week. Half a million tons of the commodity had, however, been exported by then at the rate of $220 per ton. The government later decided to import one million ton wheat at the rate of $440 per ton after acknowledging a wheat shortage. He said the government was not ready to pay Rs500 per 40kg for the local wheat, but it paid Rs1,000 per 40kg for imported wheat.

He said the government should announce a good support price for wheat to ensure maximum sowing. DAP fertiliser prices should not be raised and the subsidy being given on the fertiliser should be given on other fertilisers and weedicides too. He said import and local manufacture of agriculture implements and machinery should be encouraged. He said the government should avoid privatisation of wheat business because it would result in artificial shortages.