Wheat
Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest producer of wheat, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with an annual production of over 21 million metric tonnes (MT). The US Department of Agriculture estimates Pakistan’s rice consumption to be over 2.5 million MT. With exports of about the same quantity, Pakistan is capable of feeding its own population. Faced with such positive facts, we all wonder about the exact reasons for the prevailing wheat crises, which has existed in varied degrees for over a year now.
Before delving into the crisis, it is important to present an overview of the prevailing Government wheat policy (also known as Food Security policy).
The Government is obliged under the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the provision of essential food at affordable prices to the population throughout the country (please hold back that snicker and eye-roll).
Rice
Rice occupies 2.5 million hectare that is 10.9% of the total cultivated area with production of 5.1 million tonnes of milled rice (Table I). In Pakistan’s agrarian economy rice plays multifarious roles. Firstly, it is second staple food and contributes more than 2 million tonnes to our national food requirement. Secondly, rice industry is an important source of employment and income for rural people. Thirdly, it contributes in the country’s foreign exchange exchequer. For instance, during 1999-2000 about 2 million tonnes rice of worth 26 billion rupees was exported. The barter trade on Afghanistan border was in addition to this export. The significance of this commodity in our economy is evident from the above facts. Therefore, it is imperative to focus on the efforts needed to further improve its competitiveness in the international market.
In Pakistan, rice is grown under diverse climatic and geographic conditions. Basmati predominates in traditional rice tracts of Punjab (zone 2). In Swat (zone 1) at high altitude mountain valleys, temperate Japonica rices are grown. In the South of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan (zones 3 and 4) IRRI type long grain heat tolerant tropical rices are grown.
Cotton
Sugarcane
Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest producer of wheat, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with an annual production of over 21 million metric tonnes (MT). The US Department of Agriculture estimates Pakistan’s rice consumption to be over 2.5 million MT. With exports of about the same quantity, Pakistan is capable of feeding its own population. Faced with such positive facts, we all wonder about the exact reasons for the prevailing wheat crises, which has existed in varied degrees for over a year now.
Before delving into the crisis, it is important to present an overview of the prevailing Government wheat policy (also known as Food Security policy).
The Government is obliged under the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the provision of essential food at affordable prices to the population throughout the country (please hold back that snicker and eye-roll).
RiceRice occupies 2.5 million hectare that is 10.9% of the total cultivated area with production of 5.1 million tonnes of milled rice (Table I). In Pakistan’s agrarian economy rice plays multifarious roles. Firstly, it is second staple food and contributes more than 2 million tonnes to our national food requirement. Secondly, rice industry is an important source of employment and income for rural people. Thirdly, it contributes in the country’s foreign exchange exchequer. For instance, during 1999-2000 about 2 million tonnes rice of worth 26 billion rupees was exported. The barter trade on Afghanistan border was in addition to this export. The significance of this commodity in our economy is evident from the above facts. Therefore, it is imperative to focus on the efforts needed to further improve its competitiveness in the international market.
In Pakistan, rice is grown under diverse climatic and geographic conditions. Basmati predominates in traditional rice tracts of Punjab (zone 2). In Swat (zone 1) at high altitude mountain valleys, temperate Japonica rices are grown. In the South of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan (zones 3 and 4) IRRI type long grain heat tolerant tropical rices are grown.
CottonCotton is a natural fiber that finds use in many products. These range from clothing to home furnishings to medical products. As a result, cotton is always in demand though its use is subject to the strengths and weaknesses of the overall economy. It accounts for 8.2 percent of the value added in agriculture and about 2 percent to GDP.
Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of cotton in the world, the third largest exporter of raw cotton, the fourth largest consumer of cotton, and the largest exporter of cotton yarn. 1.3 million farmers (out of a total of 5 million) cultivate cotton over 3 million hectares, covering 15 per cent of the cultivable area in the country. Cotton and cotton products contribute about 10 per cent to GDP and 55 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Taken as a whole, between 30 and 40 per cent of the cotton ends up as domestic consumption of final products. The remaining is exported as raw cotton, yarn, cloth, and garments.
Cotton production supports Pakistan’s largest industrial sector, comprising some 400 textile mills, 7 million spindles, 27,000 looms in the mill sector (including 15,000 shuttle less looms), over 250,000 looms in the non-mill sector, 700 knitwear units, 4,000 garment units (with 200,000 sewing machines), 650 dyeing and finishing units (with finishing capacity of 1,150 million square meters per year), nearly 1,000 ginneries, 300 oil expellers, and 15,000 to 20,000 indigenous, small scale oil expellers (kohlus). It is by any measure Pakistan’s most important economic sector. Not surprisingly, government policy has generally been used to maintain a
stable and often relatively low domestic price of cotton, especially since 1986-87 through the imposition of export duties, in order to support domestic industry.
Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of cotton in the world, the third largest exporter of raw cotton, the fourth largest consumer of cotton, and the largest exporter of cotton yarn. 1.3 million farmers (out of a total of 5 million) cultivate cotton over 3 million hectares, covering 15 per cent of the cultivable area in the country. Cotton and cotton products contribute about 10 per cent to GDP and 55 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Taken as a whole, between 30 and 40 per cent of the cotton ends up as domestic consumption of final products. The remaining is exported as raw cotton, yarn, cloth, and garments.
Cotton production supports Pakistan’s largest industrial sector, comprising some 400 textile mills, 7 million spindles, 27,000 looms in the mill sector (including 15,000 shuttle less looms), over 250,000 looms in the non-mill sector, 700 knitwear units, 4,000 garment units (with 200,000 sewing machines), 650 dyeing and finishing units (with finishing capacity of 1,150 million square meters per year), nearly 1,000 ginneries, 300 oil expellers, and 15,000 to 20,000 indigenous, small scale oil expellers (kohlus). It is by any measure Pakistan’s most important economic sector. Not surprisingly, government policy has generally been used to maintain a
stable and often relatively low domestic price of cotton, especially since 1986-87 through the imposition of export duties, in order to support domestic industry.
SugarcaneSugarcane is an important industrial and cash crop in Pakistan and in many countries of the world. It is grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world in a range of climates from hot dry environment near sea level to cool and moist environment at higher elevations. Besides sugar production, sugarcane produces numerous valuable byproducts like, alcohol used by pharmaceutical industry, ethanol used as a fuel, bagasse used for paper, and chip board manufacturing and press mud used as a rich source of organic matter and nutrients for crop production.
Pakistan occupies an important position in cane producing countries of the world. It ranks at the fifth position in cane acreage and production and almost 15th position in sugar production. A comparison of cane yield and sugar recovery in some cane growing countries is given in the table below.
Pakistan occupies an important position in cane producing countries of the world. It ranks at the fifth position in cane acreage and production and almost 15th position in sugar production. A comparison of cane yield and sugar recovery in some cane growing countries is given in the table below.
No comments:
Post a Comment