By Muhammad Luqman

The wet spells that began in the last week of March and are persisting into the first week of April may slightly delay wheat harvesting in central and northern Punjab. However, they are expected to support a bumper crop, with production likely to surpass targets, according to agriculture experts.

The national wheat production target for this year has been set at 29.678 million tons, of which Punjab is expected to contribute 22.5 million tons from the crops sown over 16.5 million acres.

“We were earlier expecting harvesting to begin across most parts of Punjab by April 10, but the recent rain spells are likely to push this to the third week of April,” said Dr. Javed Ahmad, Chief Scientist at the Wheat Research Institute (WRI), Faisalabad.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he explained that wheat harvesting in Punjab typically progresses from south to north — starting in Rahim Yar Khan, which borders Sindh, and ending in Attock, adjacent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The harvest has already begun in Bahawalpur Division along the Sindh border,” Dr. Ahmad said, adding that the unusual rise in temperatures at the beginning of March had been a cause for concern for the farming community, but the subsequent rainfall significantly improved crop conditions.

Agriculture experts cautioned that ongoing rains, coupled with occasional hailstorms and strong winds, may cause localized crop damage.

“Rains may delay harvesting and cause lodging in some areas, but the overall situation will remain satisfactory,” said Dr. Anjum Ali Buttar, a consultant at the Punjab Agriculture Department.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said farmers’ losses so far are unlikely to exceed one percent of total production.
He added that the recent drop in temperatures across the Punjab plains has greatly aided grain formation in the wheat crop, particularly in the upper regions, contributing to expectations of strong yields.

“The production will definitely surpass the target of 22.5 million tons,” Dr. Buttar said.

The farming community is also satisfied with the crop’s condition and remains optimistic about a bumper harvest this year. However, farmers stressed the need for a clear government policy on wheat procurement and pricing.

“The wheat procurement policy announced by the government is ambiguous. The government should present a clear plan for purchasing this commodity,” said Ijaz Ahmad Siddiqi, President of the Agriculture Reforms Movement (ARM).
He told Wealth Pakistan that wheat growers in Punjab have incurred losses of Rs400 billion over the past two years due to a weak marketing system.

Siddiqi urged the Punjab government to immediately fix the official wheat price at around Rs4,000 per 40kg to ensure fair returns for farmers.

He emphasized that only better pricing for agricultural produce can ensure food security in the country. He said a good government intervention would be instrumental in stabilizing wheat prices during the harvesting season.
“Any complacent attitude on the part of the government may encourage middlemen to exploit the situation,” Ijaz Ahmad Siddiqi said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk