PBF says urea cost hits wheat crop

KARACHI: Wheat production is expected to reach 29 million tonnes this season, falling short of the government’s 32 million tonne target, the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) said on Friday, as high input costs weigh on the agricultural sector.

Ahmad Jawad, vice president of PBF, said prices of inputs remain at higher levels and farmers have been forced to buy urea at double the actual price as they paid over Rs5,000 per bag due to alleged hoarding.

“Wheat cultivation has already begun in Sindh... the government needs to make a strict check on smuggling this time as last year 592 hoarders were involved in wheat smuggling,” he added. Jawad said there is a huge scope to increase this yield through relatively simple changes in the production system such as reduced tillage, increased use of certified seeds, use of seed drills, a better match between fertiliser applications and soils, and the application of micronutrients.

"There is also a large potential scope to reduce on-farm and off-farm losses through improved harvesting, bulk handling, and storage in modern silos."