PESHAWAR, March 1: NWFP is likely to record marginal improvement in its wheat crop yields this time round in comparison with the production level recorded during the last two Rabi seasons, according to official sources and agriculture experts.

As per the preliminary estimates of the provincial government department, wheat crop — which is in its development stage at present — has been sown at 796,100 hectares.

The area also includes around 100,000 hectares under wheat crop in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The NWFP agriculture department is expecting marginal increase in the wheat crop yields during the financial year 2002-03 in comparison with the last two financial years despite the fact that the area under wheat crop is likely to settle at a level slightly lower than the preliminary estimates prepared at the start of the current Rabi crop season from October 1, last.

“Though the area wise position would be clear only after the final survey is conducted by the close of the Rabi crop season — March 31, 2003 — to determine the actual area under wheat crop, wheat crop yield is likely to surpass the 900,000 tons mark this time round if every thing goes well till the produce is finally marketed,” said a senior officer of the agriculture department.

The province, according to figures collected from the concerned agency of the provincial government, had ended up with total wheat crop yield of 890,452 tons in the financial year 2001-02 against 764,006 tons recorded in 2000-01.

Wheat crop yields in the financial year 2000-01 remained much lower than the government target because of devastating drought, which hit several parts of the rain-fed areas of the province, including its southern and northern belts.

The yields in 2001-02 recorded an improvement by 16.6 per cent in comparison with the 2000-01 despite the fact that the crop had been sown (in the financial year 2001-02) at an area considerably less than the financial year 2000-01.

Against the 790,285 hectares under wheat crop in fiscal 2000-01, the crop was cultivated at a total of 746,944 hectares in 2001-02 — 43,341 hectares more than the fiscal year 2001-02.

Official sources said that improvement in the wheat crop yield in 2001-02 had been attained — despite cultivating the crop at a less area than 2000-01 — because of timely rains in the rain-fed areas of the province and balance application of inputs and usage of improved seed.