ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal said on Friday that the first consignment of imported urea would reach on January 14, 2009.

He directed the ministry to ensure sufficient and frequent supply of urea fertiliser to farmers, said an official statement issued here.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and without developing it we cannot achieve economic prosperity and ensure food security,” the minister said.

He said that his ministry was taking special measures to meet the urea demand.

For wheat crop, 190,000 tons of urea fertiliser would be imported by the end of this month and another 225,000 tons would reach till January 25, 2009, the minister said.

For an additional quantity of 350,000 tons, the government has allocated $100 million. “In this way till January 31 next year total 750,000 tons of urea fertiliser will be imported to ensure uninterrupted supplies to farmers,” the minister added.—APP