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Punjab wheat sowing area down 3.48pc
MULTAN-The wheat sowing area has decreased by 3.48 per cent in
the Punjab, revealed the recently released figures by the Crop
Reporting Centre, Department of Agriculture, Punjab.
In the year 2000-01, the wheat was cultivated on 15.458
million acres of land in the province due to handsome rate
offered by the Federal Government. But, during fiscal 2001-02,
the wheat area has declined to 14.922 million acres. The
decrease has been computed at 3.48 per cent.
The agronomists have identified three reasons for fall in the
cultivated area of the golden grain. Firstly, the Rs 300 per
maund rate offered by the government did not properly reach
the growers.
Moreover, the farmers had grown a bumper crop leading to one
million tons in excess. But unluckily arrangements were not
made to export the surplus produce.
Secondly, due to long and perhaps unprecedented dry-spell
there was scanty water in the canals. Arid zone such as Pindi
division equally suffered on this count.
Thirdly, after last year’s rate debacle the growers diverted
their attention from wheat towards sugarcane. So, the
sugarcane area rose by over 12 per cent in the year 2001-02.
The cultivated area increased from 1.52 million acres in
2000-01 to 1.70 million acres in 2001-2002.
Dera Ghazi Khan is the only division which, with 1.963 million
acres area, has shown an increase of about five per cent, as
against last year’s 1.890 million acres.
The agriculture department officials and experts have said
that with the opening of the Chashma Right Bank Canal on trial
basis the wheat-sown area in DG Khan district has gone up.
Rajanpur, Laiyya and Muzaffargarh districts have not shown any
increase.
The wheat growers and experts have stressed that unless
appropriate measures are taken by the ministries concerned for
the export of surplus wheat, the wheat-cultivated area will
not increase.
Dry spell is another factor which depends on the nature. If
weather becomes conducive for rains the dry spell may end,
which will have had a good impact on the agriculture sector.
February 16, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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