ISLAMABAD, March 21: In the back drop of ominous reports of resurgence of El Nino phenomenon bringing less rains during the coming Kharif season, the Federal Agriculture Committee set a target of 10.07 million bales for cotton, 46 million tons of sugarcane and 3.5 million tons of rice production in 2002-2003.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship Food and Agriculture Minister Khair Mohammad Junejo, noted with satisfaction that despite a 50 per cent shortage of water the country’s agricultural yield remained very encouraging in 2001-2002.

The country produced 10.6 million bales of cotton, 49 million tons of sugarcane (enough to get 2.9 million tons sugar), and 3.8 million tons of rice, which was slightly lower than the target, Junejo told a press conference.

He said that a total of 19.2 million tons of wheat was expected against the target of 20 million tons.

Rice, as was expected, fell short of target but the redeeming feature was that production of superior quality Basmati rice increased by 100,000 tons and production of only coarse qualities suffered, he said.

The ministry, he added, was discouraging production of inferior quality of rice and had advised the growers in Putt Feeder area of Balochistan and in upper parts of Sindh to switch from rice to cotton.

The country had achieved surplus in wheat, sugar and rice, self-sufficiency in cotton and pulses and facing deficit only in oilseed and tea, Junejo said.

Commenting on the targets set by the FAC for the Kharif season, he said these targets had been given after taking into account water shortage and the forecast of return of El Nino.

He said a representative of Indus River System Authority gave a detailed briefing to the committee about the availability of water during the Kharif season, projecting a minimum shortage of 47 per cent and a maximum of 62 per cent.

Cotton, which constituted almost 60 per cent of country’s export, was sown on a total of 3,125,000 hectares in 2001, which was 6.8 per cent higher than the total area that came under cultivation in 2000.

The FAC was informed that cotton arrival as of March 15 2002, had been 9.864 million bales, slightly less than the arrivals till the same date in 2001. The country as of March 2002, imported 877,912 bales and exported only 65,654 bales, whereas in the whole 2000-2001, the import were only 670,318 bales and exports were 709,547 bales.

The increase in import and decrease in the export of raw cotton was noted as a good sign by the FAC, reflecting revival of textile industry in the country.

Junejo said the committee had an extensive discussion on the oilseed production in the country and noted a considerable decrease in oilseed cultivation. In Punjab oilseed cultivation area had come down to 60,000 acres from over 400,000 acres.

The ministry, he said, was considering to strictly implement international standard of 35 per cent soft oil blending with the hard oil which would certainly encourage the local growers.

He pointed out that oilseed prices in the international market had gone down from 700 dollars to 240 dollars per ton.