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Wheat support price fixed at Rs950 per 40kg: PM |
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Updated at:
1555
PST, Monday, September 29, 2008 |
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday announced increase in support price of wheat crop from the existing Rs. 625 to Rs. 950 per 40 kg. After chairing a special meeting of federal cabinet at PM Secretariat, the Prime Minister told media persons that new procurement price of wheat had been fixed as ‘minimum guaranteed price’, to be effective from next season’s wheat crop.
The Prime Minister said the incentive would not only encourage the farmers to grow more wheat, but also help the government ensure food security in the country.
He said the government had set a target of 25 million tonnes of wheat production, which would help overcome its shortage and also benefit the common man.
With raise in procurement price, the Prime Minister said the government would endure a cost of Rs. 10 billion in this regard, however local farmers would greatly benefit from the facility which was earlier being incurred on imports.
Gilani said if in the market, the farmer was paid less than Rs. 950 per kg for his wheat crop, the government would buy his produce at the guaranteed rate.
He said the step would mostly benefit small farmers, whom he defined as those who owned 25 acres or less land.
When asked how it would affect the rate of a flour bag, the Prime Minister said it would be clear in next six months after the harvest of new crop.
However, he hoped that the step would produce wheat in surplus amount.
He asked the farmers to grow more wheat and directed chief ministers of all provinces to take personal interest in encouraging farmers during sowing seasons and also facilitate them.
Gilani said increase in wheat price would also help control cross border smuggling by 90 percent, because of the leveling of rate with other neighboring countries.
He rejected the impression that the step had been taken in view of international agencies, and said it was a part of the government’s efforts to ensure good governance.
The Prime Minister also announced introducing Benazir Zarai Card for small farmers, which could be used as an agricultural credit or debit card. He said the passbooks of land would be taken as security, as the farmers could be able to get money through these cards for sowing and would later pay at the time their product comes to market.
He also mentioned already in function the Crop Insurance Scheme, which gives protection to farmers in case of natural calamities.
Gilani said the currant shortage of wheat was due to the wrong estimate of production level by the previous government. He said loads of wheat was exported considering it in surplus, while later it imported the same by paying four times more.
He said a committee had been constituted to introduce starting similar project like Benazir government’s Green Tractor Scheme, which provided loans to farmers to buy machinery.
The Prime Minister said for Benazir Income Support Program, the process of identification was on the go, which would later benefit 3.8 million people.
He said the main objective of the government was to strengthen economy and bring good governance in the country. He mentioned improvement in fiscal policies and rearrangement of subsidies as important ingredients in this regard.
Gilani said the government was also focusing on the availability of agricultural water by making small dams, and said Ministry of Water and Power had already been directed to ensure water available during the sowing season. |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
