The production of major and minor Rabi crops including wheat, grams, mustard and vegetables is likely to increase due to recent spell of rains in the country. Agriculture experts told Business Recorder that rains would have a positive impact on Rabi crops including wheat, grams and vegetables. They said that at present wheat was passing through the booting stage and it required large quantity of water and the recent rains would prove a blessing.
A senior official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) said that recent spell of rains would improve the growth of wheat and grams. “The country produced 23.5 million tons of wheat last year while after the recent rains 25 million tons of wheat production during the current is expected,” he said. When contacted Ibrahim Moghul, Chairman Agri-Forum Pakistan agreed and said that recent rains would have a positive impact on the growth of wheat, grams, vegetables and mustard.
“The recent rains are likely to increase wheat production by three to five percent in the country,” he said but added that the country would miss the set target of wheat production as wheat was sown on over 21 million hectares instead of 22 million hectares as targeted earlier in the year. The recent spell of rains would be beneficial for other minor crops including fruit, vegetables and pulses grown over a vast area in the country, he said.
Another expert said that recent rains would be very beneficial for wheat as it was on five-leave or pre-booting stage and it required water for further nourishment. “The rainwater has more nutrients than tub-well water due to which the recent rains will bring positive impact on wheat production,” he said. He said rains would also have a positive impact on minor crops, adding that minor crops were cultivated on five percent of the total cropped area.
