The government has set a wheat production goal of 33.58 million tons for the Rabi Season 2024-2025, covering an area of 10.368 million hectares. This decision emerged from a meeting of the Federal Committee of Agriculture (FCA), led by Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research.
During this meeting, the committee assessed the outcomes of the Kharif crops for 2024-2025 and established production targets for the upcoming Rabi season. However, fears of a flour crisis are rising as farmers are hesitant to sow wheat due to unclear policies.
Despite the federal target of 33.58 million tons, provincial governments suggested lower production targets. They proposed cultivating wheat on 9.263 million hectares, predicting a yield of 27.92 million tons. The meeting encouraged provincial authorities to implement effective strategies to meet these federal targets and ensure enough wheat supply for the next year.
In addition to wheat, the FCA set production targets for other crops, including gram (419.4 thousand tons), potatoes (6.83 million tons), onions (2.55 million tons), tomatoes (658.7 thousand tons), and chilies (56.8 thousand tons).
The meeting also reviewed Kharif crop performance, noting that sugarcane production for 2024-2025 is projected at 85.5 million tons, a 4.3% increase in area and 11.5% in yield over FCA targets. Rice production is estimated at 9.079 million tons, reflecting an 18.5% increase in area and a 4% rise in output compared to previous targets. Lastly, mash production is anticipated to reach 5.77 thousand tons, showing a slight increase from last year.
The availability of certified seeds for the upcoming Rabi season is expected to be satisfactory, according to the Director General of the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department. However, a 16% water shortage is anticipated for Punjab and Sindh, with provinces assigned a total water allocation of 31.136 MAF, subject to review in early November 2024.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts normal to below-normal rainfall across most regions, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, central Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan, while slightly above-normal rains are expected in Sindh and southern Punjab. Rainfall in October and December is predicted to be near-normal overall.
Additionally, the supply of urea and DAP fertilizers is expected to remain stable during the forthcoming Rabi season. The meeting was attended by representatives from various agricultural departments and organizations, both in-person and virtually, to discuss these crucial agricultural targets and challenges.
