Rains in plains hurt wheat harvesting, delay procurement

LAHORE: Thunderstorm and rain in plains have adversely affected wheat harvesting, slowing down procurement drive.A wet spell during wheat harvesting is always an unwelcoming act as it virtually stops every activity on the field and at procurement centers, said Sarfraz Khan, a senior leader of the Kissan Board Pakistan.

Punjab Food Department has yet to start buying wheat despite the fact that wheat harvesting in southern and central parts of the province has gained momentum and entered an advance stage.

Now after rains, the whole process came to a standstill, he lamented.There are few incidences of any damage to standing wheat crop due to rain related events, he said and adding, direct impact of wet conditions are on wheat harvesting and trade. It is feared that sluggish activity on both fronts would be seen in the next week, KBP leader said.

He was wary of the role of provincial Food Department, saying wheat procurement should have been started in districts of central Punjab. Farmers, especially small and medium-scale growers have no capacity to keep their grains with them while waiting launching of the official procurement campaign.

As the Food Department seems reluctant to enter into market, small farmers are left with no option but to sell their produce to middle-men or flour millers, he observed.To a question, he said standing crop of wheat in some pockets was damaged on small scale. However, he added, prolonged wet conditions could harm wheat grain in days to come.

Even farmers residing in Yazman area of Bahawalpur, which is located at southern tip of the province, are raising same issue — non-commencement of wheat procurement campaign in their area. Most of wheat has already been harvested and sold to private sector and still there is no activity by the provincial Food Department as far initiating of buying of wheat is concerned, said Farooq Bajwa, senior member of Farmers Associates of Pakistan.

He alleged that at some places, the department is not entertaining applications of small farmers. It is sheer injustice on part of the department that wheat procurement has not started and small farmers are not being entertained by the staff concerned.

When contacted, a senior official of the Food Department acknowledged that wheat procurement had been slowed down due to thunderstorms and rains. He said that higher moisture level is always not accepted to any buyer given the fact that it causes various problems during storage stage.

Not only weight of grains reduces after drying but various diseases also attack due to moist conditions. Therefore, slowing down of wheat procurement is a natural phenomenon.About a query regarding non-initiation of buying by Food Department, he said wheat procurement process is undergoing at various stages. From display of farmers’ lists, accepting of applications and distribution of gunny bags, farmers are being fully facilitated at procurement centres in various districts.