Early wheat harvest rolls on in southern Punjab on warm spell

LAHORE: Unusually temperatures in southern Punjab advancing the growth of wheat crop in the region, leaving the produce vulnerable to market forces as prices of new arrivals already hit rock bottom, farmers said on Thursday.

They added that wheat crop enters into harvesting stage two weeks ahead of schedule due to persistent dry conditions and hot weather in the region. The early harvesting prompted farmers to stress selling of their produce, leaving them totally on the mercy of market forces as they are struggling to get reasonable prices. The price of wheat started to follow decreasing trend as it touched level of Rs 1,180/maund on Thursday against the official support price of Rs 1,300/maund.

The market opened on positive note a few days back with price of Rs 1,280/maund being offered to farmers in fields. “However, in a span of a few days, the price dwindled to below Rs 1,200 level, which is not a good sign,” said Muhammad Irfan, a farmer in tehsil Rajanpur. He said due to rising mercury level, wheat harvesting was already initiated in the area.

As very few buyers are present in the market, farmers are forced to sell their produce at throwaway price. Irfan claimed that farmers are getting as low as Rs 1,160/maund from private buyers.

Murid Hussain of Fort Abbas also confirmed that wheat harvesting has started in the area and demanded of the government “to start procurement as soon as possible.” Ahmad Akhtar Ali, President Agri-Forum Punjab, who hails from Rahim Yar Khan also said wheat has matured in the area about two weeks in advance as temperature jumped to 40C from 30C in about ten days.

He said harvesting has not yet fully started as many farmers are trying to dispose of their sugarcane crop. The sugarcane crushing season is about to end and all focus is on selling sugarcane to mills right now.

However, Ali observed, wheat harvesting would surely gain momentum in couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Mughal, chairman Agri-Forum Pakistan said Punjab Food Department, the biggest buyer of wheat, started wheat procurement last year on April 27 but given the rare weather conditions this season and subsequent early maturity of crop, wheat procurement should be launched from second week of April. Otherwise, he feared that farmers would face colossal losses.

“From Bahawalnagar to Rajanpur, wheat harvesting of early sown crop has started in patches and it may pick up full momentum in days to come,” he added. “Especially wheat sown on sandy, saline and hard soil tends to mature early and with subtle change in weather, wheat plants are drying fast.”

Mughal was of the view that Food Department lacked storage space and gunny bags and may not be able to start wheat procurement early, which is a worrying factor. On the other hand, a senior official of provincial Food Department said wheat procurement policy is expected to get approval of provincial cabinet from today (Friday).

He said that department was aware of early maturity of wheat and harvesting of crop.   “Steps are in place for intervening in the market in a way that price of wheat remains stable,” he said. The official said wheat procurement in the province could start by 15th April after getting approval from the provincial government.