ISLAMABAD-Agriculture sector experts believe that wheat crop production was hit by around 200000 tons due to recent rain spell across the country. Though, it (200000 tons) is not a very big quantity but still it will increase the quantity of wheat to be imported for the current food year.
Prior to the harvesting of wheat crop, the experts believed that the country would have to import around 1 million tons of wheat this year to fulfill the staple food demand across the country. It was reported earlier that there was a 10 per cent deficit in wheat sowing area this year that will definitely impact the wheat production.
According to market sources, no increase in wheat support price from the government this year discouraged farmers to sow wheat on lesser area.
As per market sources, Pakistan will have to import at least 1 million tons of wheat and due to wheat crop loss due to rains and the figure might touch 1.2 million tons or even more. But the sources said that the imported wheat does not match with the local quality and cannot be used without mixing it with the local produce.
Sources referred to the last year wheat import from Russia and said Russian wheat was costlier than the local crop but was much inferior in quality. Almost 300000 tons of wheat was imported from Russia last year and this year again due to ill government policies for the farmers, Pakistan will have to import wheat.
Sources however said that now it was safe time for the farmers whether there are rains or not because almost all the wheat crop has been harvested and stored in safe places and no more damage is expected to their produce from more rains.