LAHORE, Oct 20: Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal on Monday warned of severe food security risk if the country failed to harvest a good wheat crop next season.

He was speaking at a function organized by a local fertilizer manufacturer at a hotel here.

Growers should be encouraged to sow wheat on maximum area and enhance per acre yield in every possible way. The government was considering to give prizes to top growers to encourage them. He urged farmers to adopt latest techniques so that yield could be increased significantly.

He also stressed the need for holding seminars throughout the province to disseminate information about improving production.

Referring to delay in sugarcane crushing season, Mr Iqbal said the federal government was trying to resolve the issue and it was hoped that the millers would soon start crushing. Talks between the government and the millers were continuing on the issue of buying surplus sugar stock. The government could not force the millers to start crushing.

He advised a farmer who raised the question of non-payment of outstanding amount to move a court.

About increase in wheat support price, he said since the federal government was dealing with issue, he was not in a position to comment on it.

Kissan Board Pakistan secretary general Ibrahim Mughal, referring to the shortage of fertilizer and pesticide, said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure provision of inputs at right time.

He demanded withdrawal of GST on inputs, including pesticide and fertilizer, besides increase in the support price of wheat.

Mr Ibrahim said steps should be taken to face the challenges of the WTO regime otherwise farm sector in the country would be closed.

Experts including Dr Muhammad Aqil, Mian Wajid, Nadeem Sajjad, Hafiz Mujib, Dr Rana Shafiq, Dr Muzaffar Ahmad Khan, Abdul Samad Khan, Khalid Mir and Kahlid Subhani spoke on the occasion.