#pakistan's Cotton, wheat production targets not to be achieved

pakistan will neither be able to achieve the cotton production target next year nor the procurement of wheat produce be possible this year.

The provision of subsidized agricultural inputs in the Indian Punjab had turned farming into a profitable profession while increase in the prices was discouraging farming community in Pakistani Punjab.

The per acre yield of cotton has come down to 19 maunds from 26 maunds over the last three years while production of wheat stands at 25 maunds per acre against 32 maunds in the year 2008.

Punjab province has been unable to meet agriculture production targets for the three consecutive years due to ill-planning by the provincial agriculture department. The low-yields of various crops inflicted a cumulative loss of Rs 163 billion to the province.