ISLAMABAD
The high powered Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) Wednesday fixed the wheat production target for year 2015-16 at 26 million tons from an area of 8.980 million hectares.
The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, reviewed the performance of Kharif crops (2015) and production plan for Rabi crops (2105-16).
The committee was informed that sugarcane production for 2015 was estimated at 65435 thousand tons from an area of 1136.2 thousand hectares. The rice (Kharif 2015) production was estimated around 6606 thousand tons from an area of 2740 thousand hectares.
The provincial representatives of Agriculture Departments emphasized that adequate supply of urea and phosphatic fertilizers during December and January was crucial for achieving the wheat production target of 26 million tons.
The concerned officials stated that sugarcane production for 2015 was estimated at 65435 thousand tons from an area of 1136.2 thousand hectares. The rice (Kharif 2015) production was estimated around 6606 thousand tons from an area of 2740 thousand hectares
The committee was informed that irrigation water availability position for current Rabi season (Rabi 2015-16) was estimated at 25.27 million acres feet (MAF) as against average usage of 23.67 MAF for the season. Overall no irrigation water shortage, for the current Rabi season, from Indus basin system. However, the water levels in the reservoirs were reported better as compared to last year. Additionally, MET Department informed that the rainfall during October – December will be received normal to above normal and that rain prospects will be better in the country.
The representative of State Bank of Pakistan apprised that allocations of institutional credit for agriculture had substantially increased to Rs600 billion for 2015-16 in comparison with the last year’s (2014-15) level of Rs. 515.9 billion.
The meeting was attended by representatives from provincial Agriculture Departments, IRSA, Pakistan Meteorological Department, SBP, ZTBL, NFDC, Chairman, PARC, NARC and heads of Ministry’s attached departments also participated in the meeting.