For the second consecutive year, Pakistan is suffering from wheat and flour crisis. To meet the demand of wheat, Pakistan is now importing wheat from Ukraine and the first consignment of 36,000 tonnes has reached the country. The second consignment of 35,000 tonnes will arrive on July 26. According to the decision of the federal cabinet, in total, Pakistan will import 2.5 million tones of wheat this year as the country failed to achieve its production target. Earlier, the cabinet decided to import 1.5 million tonnes. Last year, the government imported 0.7 million tones of wheat. Pakistan government faced severe criticism as the imported wheat was of inferior quality. Shakeel Ahmed, official from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL), said that because of the cheaper price, the government is importing wheat from Ukraine. He said that the wheat is about $100-$150 cheaper per tonne from the soft wheat.
Talking to Business Recorder, a member of Floor Mill Association feared that wheat being imported from Ukraine might be of inferior quality. While Ibrahim Mughal, chairman Pakistan Agro Forum said that considering the wheat situation the government is concentrating more on its quantity rather than quality.
"Presently the quality is not an issue but the quantity," he added. The wheat quality in the Russian states is inferior, he said. Pakistan enjoys top position in having superior wheat quality while India stood below Pakistan in terms of wheat quality.
Mr. Ibrahim thinks that the government should provide incentives to the domestic wheat growers to increase local production. He also believes that the government should further increase support prices which will bar the farmers from sowing more wheat. As a result, farmers would switch to other crops. Mr. Ibrahim thinks that Pakistan government should take a pro-farmer policy in the face of growing food crisis around the world.
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