ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said the wheat crop forecasting and assessment system would be improved to provide timely information to the policy-makers and the private sector.

The minister expressed these views while speaking at a seminar on 'Issues and Options for Wheat Policy' in Bhorban. The wheat crop estimation, he said, had historically remained weak in the country.

"We are also not able to differentiate between different purposes of maintaining stocks, for example to differentiate buffer stock from the operational stock", he added.

The wheat forecasting and information system would be improved to ensure effective increase in production of food and the overall increase in supply of food in the country, he maintained.

Mr Bosan said his ministry was planning to shape the new wheat policy on the principles of market economy. A policy distinction would be maintained 'guaranteed minimum price' and 'procurement price' of wheat. This would be done through mobilising the role of private sector in wheat management endeavours.

He said buffer stock programme would be designed for the purpose of food security and price stabilisation. Carefully targeted subsidy programmes would be planned and implemented for reaching out to the food insecure groups.