Policy risks to agriculture

Policy risks to agriculture
By Ahmad Fraz Khan

If farmers’ fears are to go by, the new year might not be any different for agriculture from the last one. They think that this year too, the terms of trade would be unfavourable for them, international recession would keep commodity prices down and an ever-expanding domestic tax regime would keep the cost of production high.

Listing factors causing fears, farmers maintain that uncertainty is also haunting them. At the policy level, no one knows who is in-charge of the sector? The federation has abdicated the sector to provinces after the 18th amendment, but the federating units have yet to come to grips with the problems agitating the growers.
Ideally, it should be a temporary phase and the provinces, especially Punjab and Sindh, should quickly develop the capacity to plan and execute their own agricultural priorities. The problem, however, is that agriculture, as a sector, is yet to appear on provincial policy radar. The budgetary allocations reflect the level of neglect that the sector faces by the provinces. Punjab, which is considered to be the food basket of the country, allocates only Rs3-3.5 billion for the sector each year. To put the things in context, it has allocated Rs50 billion for police this year.

The spending patterns leaves even more to be desired. Out of Rs3.5 billion, the subsequent budgetary revisions regularly rob almost half of the amount, which leaves the sector with less than Rs2 billion to spend during an entire year. For the last three years, the actual budgetary spending has never crossed 60 per cent of the allocations. It means, actually, the sector gets only Rs1 billion each year; it indicates the commitment of the provincial government. With this meagre money, it can hardly meet the level of expectations raised by the 18th Amendment. That is precisely the point that continues to haunt the farmers. Can the Punjab government reverse the spending trend in 2012, the farmers are not convinced.

Second, the farmers fear crop cycle failure during this year. They feel that the country has started the year on a wrong foot.
The cane crop is sprinting towards marketing failure and wheat would be the next one. The cane crop, which is hugely healthy, has seen delayed start of the crushing season and price sliding. The millers, fully aware of the crop size, are making up to 25 per cent deductions in price on excuses like quality. If crop is short, the millers never mention the quality issue. But now, they are doing so with full fiscal ferocity.
On the other hand, farm temperatures have dropped much below the zero degree, injuring the crop from within. Both these factors are hurting the farmers. Cane has overlapping harvesting and sowing activity; on the one hand, it is harvested, and on the other, sown. If farmers don’t get proper returns, the sowing would immediately suffer.
The wheat failure is also feared, not because of production but procurement, as is the case with cane. The country is currently holding close to ten million tons of wheat, with a clogged debt of around Rs300 billion. Servicing this debt is costing the country around Rs6 billion per month. The State Bank has warned everyone that they would get as much loan as they retire.
Thus, money would severely be in short supply when the government needs it the most four months down the line

The federation has increased wheat price by more than 10 per cent, correspondingly raising the inventory keeping cost. If these factors lead to a price crash, the farmers would be in for a big trouble.
Both crops, if they fail as much as the farmers fear, can take the entire crop cycle down next year. If farmers do not get money from one crop, their investment would naturally drop on the next one. The fertiliser crisis has already taken a toll on wheat this year. Punjab is still lagging 600,000 acres behind its target, which it would, most probably, miss this year because temperatures have already dropped in the country to a level that make germination impossible.
Third fear factor is prices of inputs, especially fertiliser. In the last one year, urea prices have doubled and that of DAP increased by more than 50 per cent. It has already reflected in their off-take; urea consumption in Rabi has dropped by more than 15 per cent so far and DAP by 40 per cent.

The new increase in gas prices, effective from January 1, would further increase urea prices, taking them out of farmers’ fiscal reach. To make the matter worse, the government, instead of controlling ever-increasing fertiliser prices, is contributing to their increase. Taxation, increasing gas prices, failure to print prices on bags and failure to move its machinery for regulating prices are a few examples of government unwillingness or inability to keep prices in check.
The fourth factor is the federal attitude. After lobbing the sector in provincial lap through the 18th Amendment, it seems to have abandoned even those decisions it can take. Like, export of agriculture commodities and imports of inputs. The country is still holding huge wheat stocks because it failed to export wheat due to federal fears and delayed decisions. Its import of fertiliser got dangerously delayed because the federation took time to get fully convinced.
Courtesy: The DAWN

 

Source: http://www.pakissan.com/english/issues/policy.risks.to.agriculture.shtml

Read More

Hoti launches mechanised farming project at Tarnab

December 04, 2012: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti has formally launched Mechanised Farming Project and Agriculture Policy at Tarnab Farm on Monday. Addressing the ceremony, he said that project of mechanised farming and agriculture policy will prove harbinger of progress in active government functionaries, financial improvement of farmers and progress in agriculture production.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Arbab Muhammad Ayub Jan, Provincial Minister For Animal Husbandry Haji Hidayatullah, MPA Saqib Chamkani, administrative secretaries of agriculture, livestock and fishery departments, vice chancellor agriculture university, faculty members, agriculturists, scientists and farmers were also present on the occasion.

He said that the project will make available modern technology, environment and facilities to enable farmers to yield more production from their limited areas. The chief minister said that increase in agriculture sector due to 18th amendment, agriculture policy congruent to modern needs was needed. He said that 10 years agriculture policy with assistance of F.A.O, has been prepared bearing self-sufficiency in agriculture and achievement of priorities in mind, added, implementation on the policy has commenced.

He said that under the policy worth Rs 500 million, farmers will be provided with modern technology at subsidised rates and other benefits and facilities. He said that resources will be provided to Model Farms Services Center in the form of endowment fund. He said that the province has the lead in preparing agriculture policy at national and provincial levels under which the guidance will be provided to agriculture sector for coming 10 years.

He said that the government has allocated Rs 2 billion to agriculture for achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture this year but the previous government has allocated Rs 322 million. He said that future of the province was linked to investment in hydel power, oil and gas and agriculture. He approved construction of road from GT Road to Tarnab Farm and issued directives to concerned authorities in this connection.

The chief minister also distributed endowment funds cheques among representatives of different farms services centers and offered honorary certificates to prominent performers agriculture scientists and officers and personnel of livestock and agriculture departments.

Courtesy Business Recorder

Read More

Cotton market: prices firm amid modest trading

December 05, 2012: Rates moved up cautiously on the cotton market on Tuesday after the short fall in phutti arrivals in the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) fortnightly report, dealers said. Official spot rate was unchanged at Rs 5,900, they said. Above, 1300 bales of cotton finalised between Rs 5650 and Rs 600, they said.

Prices of seedcotton (phutti) in Sindh were nearly unchanged at Rs 2500-2700, in Punjab, rates were at Rs 2600-2900, they said. According to some analysts, despite lower-than-expected phutti arrivals, prices any significant change and this was some surprising for the ginners, as many in the market were expecting major hike in the rates.

The mills and spinners were importing fine quality cotton at the local prices, this is a leading factor, which did not allow the prices to go up sharply, experts said. According to the Reuters, the US cotton futures hit their highest levels in almost six weeks on Monday on speculative buying and a weaker dollar but pared gains late in the day on technical selling.

Prices rose almost one percent and pierced 74 cents per lb in early trading for the first time since October 23 as fresh speculative money piled into fibers on the first day of the month. Later on, tentative producer and technical selling pushed prices off their highs, with the most-active March contract on ICE Futures US settling up 0.07 cent, or 0.09 percent, at 73.98 cents per lb.

The following deals were reported: 1000 bales of cotton from Shahdad Pur at Rs 5650, 800 bales from Khair Pur at Rs 6000/6050, 1000 bales from Upper Sindh at Rs 6050, 200 bales from Bakkhar at Rs 5900, 800 bales from Layyah at Rs 5900-6100, 400 bales from Ali Pur at Rs 5950, 800 bales from Tonsa Sharif at Rs 5950/6075, 400 bales from Haroonabad at Rs 5975, 800 bales from Khichi Wala at Rs 6000, 600 bales from Hasil Pur at Rs 6000/6050, 400 bales from Mian Chano at Rs 6000, 200 bales from Bahwal Pur at Rs 6000, 400 bales from Basti Malook at Rs 6000, 400 bales from Khan Pur at Rs 6000, 600 bales from Sadiqabad at Rs 6000, 400 bales from Faqir wali at Rs 6000, 400 Fort Abbas at Rs 6000, 400 bales from Jalal Pur at Rs 6000, 2000 bales from Rahim Yar Khan at Rs 6050/6100, 400 bales from Shadan Lund at Rs 6075 and 400 bales from Rajan Pur at Rs 6075, they said.

Courtesy Business Recorder

Read More

Pre Feasibility Study on raisin Production Unit

 

Read More

Graps in Sindh By: M.H. Panhwar

Grapes are said to have originated from Pakistan to the Caucasus Mountains area. There still are wild varieties of grapes in hilly tracts of the northern area of Pakistan and Dr. Maxime Thompson of the University of Oregon has collected more than 100 wild varieties recently. They still are in quarantine with the USDA.

Some 12,000 years ago temperatures were some 10°F (5.5°C) lower than today and Sindh (see the climatic map of Sindh drawn by the present writer) probably had wild grapes growing all over the Province (State). Warming started 10,000 years ago and as the area was arid most of the grapes in the wild were destroyed by grazing animals. There is archaeological evidence of grapes being cultivated in Sindh by Neolithic farmers 7,000 years ago and afterwards. The varieties grown then must have come from wild ancestors. Since then grapes have been raised in this area throughout the centuries.

Around 2,800 years ago tribes in northern Pakistan, developed Vedic religion (Hinduism descended from it). Among their four early religious texts, one describes making wines and liquors in great details and their taking on religious occasions. This shows large scale use of grapes for the purposes. There was no prohibition or inhibition about hard liquors in South Asia until Islam was introduced in Sindh by Muslim conquerors in 711 AD. Having been committed to prohibition of alcohol, they banned its use in public and followers of Vedic religion called Hindus (a word derived from Sindh to Ind to Hind to Hindus or dwellers of India), had to manufacture and use liquor virtually in secret from locally grown grapes to avoid conflict with followers of this faith. Muslims rulers and elite themselves were fond of liquors and probably encouraged its cultivation among non-Muslims. A well known variety of grapes “Bukhari” was introduced by them in South India. The Muslim attitude about raising grapes was an outcome of pleasing staunch clergy.

While a student at High School Mehar a town of 5000 souls, I saw eight vineyard each less than 1 acre within the municipality limits, owned by Hindu business men and being looked after by Hindu labour from the present Northern India. Grapes were harvested in early July and converted into liquor. Most of the grapes grown in Sindh were never seen in the market and were unsuitable for table use. Table grapes were imported from other areas. Such small vineyards existed in the urban towns in the whole Sindh and the cultural practices involved were not known to the Muslim cultivators, who resided in the rural areas as against Hindus who lived in urban settlements. In 1947 after the creation of two independent States of India and Pakistan, there was mass migration of Hindus to India and newly settled urban Muslims did not know what to do with the vines, so they were destroyed by neglect.

In the School my performance was good and this helped me to make friendships with Hindus students, some of whom came from the families of vine owners. Vines were irrigated by lifting water with Persian wheels from dug and brick lined wells. Average temperature of well water was 80°F against 118°F in June and minimum of 30°F on coldest nights of January. Bathing in water drawn from wells was the normal custom and also fun in the summer or winter. Free bathing water reservoirs were constructed by owners. Early morning bath just before sunrise was a religious rite among the Hindus and there invariably was a rush at the wells. Since school insisted on personal hygiene all Muslim students also took daily baths at these wells and I visited one or the other wells every day. In the process I had a chance to see most of the cultural practices involved in raising vines, stopping water in December/January defoliation manuall7y and pruning in February. I had no chance to taste the fruit as school was closed for summer vacation at harvest time during early July. What were the varieties raised for wine is not known, but a table variety known as Karachi Gulabi has survived in south India and is recognised as a dark red Muscat. It is certain that some plants may have survived now in the wild state in the abandoned fields of their original owners and collection from those localities is possible.

Knowing the background. I thought I could introduce the grape cultivation on commercial scale in the mild climate (300 chill hours below 7.2°C) at my farm by stopping water for creating stress. Small scale experiments with Thompson Seedless and its two local variations, Sunderkhani and Kishhmish, besides a few European varieties and also recent hybrids like Italia, Cardinal, Ruby Red, Alphono Lavalle, Ribier, Flame Seedless, etc., showed varying amounts of success. Being on 25°-30’N, 3 miles east of Tando Jam, the maximum angle of the sun is 49° on December 23. We therefore have run vine rows east and west and have built inclined trellis at 35° to the horizontal with 6 feet long arm to carry five wires. It works fine but under our sunny and arid weather and with irrigation there is profuse growth and I thought, we can manipulate two crops a year. We stated experiments in 1985 and put commercial crop on 2 ½ acres in 1990. We had small crop in June 1991. We are putting another 4 ½ acres in January 1993. We do not have well defined winter as our climatic chart will show you. We have not taken two crops a year as yet as rains come in July and August and water stress can be created only after rains. We plan to do so in August of 1993 hopping to get the first crop in March of 1993 and the second in June of 1994. The latter by pruning at the end of January 1994. We had succeeded in getting two crops from our experimental plots, this way. We have completed pruning only two days before Christmas and have sprayed the buds with Dormex (a new German chemical for breaking dormancy and producing uniform flowering), and expect new growth by about 10-15^th January, flowers in early February and harvest at end of May.

We came to know about the Minnesota Grape Growers Association at the University of California Davis from the library. This is how I got in touch with you. I am a graduate in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. I worked as Agricultural Engineer and later on as Chief Agriculture Engineer for Sindh Province for 16 ½ years and then started a consultancy company. I have successfully introduced peaches, plums, apples, pears, almonds and pomegranates on small scale in weather climatic charts of which is enclosed. I visit USA regularly. My wife Farzana is a Bio-chemist and has been working with me as a consultant as well as on the farm. She helps me to manipulate the environment for introducing these crops. We grew mangoes and banana on our farm and were very comfortable. We helped the people of whole Sindh to introduce these fruit crops. Expansion of area, reduced to the real income to about 40%, so we thought of changing cropping pattern. To the bad luck of the whole Province more than 150,000 acres under banana was destroyed by Bunchy Top Virus during past 4 years. I recognised the disease and one year later this was confirmed by Dr. Stover of Canada, a writer of the latest book on bananas. As token of this scientific work, President of Pakistan awarded me the highest civilian title, “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” or “Star of Excellence”. I and my wife travel to USA once a year primarily to learn from various specialists but have not stopped over in Minnesota except touching the twin city airport. Many years ago I had visited Minneapolis to contact Howard Johnson about tube-well screens. We now are planning to introduce low chill stone fruits, pome fruits, grapes, nuts (almonds and pecan) and pomegranates. We have varietal collection and plan their propagation. We need your blessings.

 

Source: http://panhwar.com/Article85.htm

Read More

Pakistan: high value early maturing grapes varieties for monsoon rain fall region of Punjab

Pakistan: high value early maturing grapes varieties for monsoon rain fall region of Punjab

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Scientists are striving hard for developing modern technologies by identifying crop varieties that are more productive, profitable and environment friendly.

According to a press release issued from National Agricultural Reserch Centre Planning and Monitoring Research Cell, Scientists engaged in research activities at the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC), Fruit and Vegetable program have recently identified three high value early maturing varieties of grapes for monsoon high rain fall region of Punjab.

Grape is one of the most remunerative summer fruit crops, native to warm, temperate zone between 34oN and 49oS latitude. In Pakistan, grapes are grown over an area of 13,000 ha with annual production of 49.0 thousand tones. Its crop require long, warm, dry summers and cool winters for best development. Mountainous and sub-mountainous areas up to 2000m altitude or more are suitable for its cultivation.

Monsoon rains result in fungal diseases and rottening of grape berries. Therefore, it was imperative to select those varieties that escape the summer monsoon rain and mature before the monsoon season.

Recent developments in its production technology by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) scientists have made it possible to grow this crop in monsoon rain fall region of Punjab. On the basis of encouraging results obtained in terms of fruit production and quality a complete package of production technology has been developed for production. The Scientists evaluated varieties at NARC and revealed that Flame Seedless, King’s Ruby and Perlette are early in maturity, and can be grown on commercial scale successfully in monsoon rain fall region of Punjab.

Now monsoon season can not produce harmful effects to spoil the grape crops. The technology developed by the NARC Scientists had a special significance because early crop harvest would bestow higher returns to farmers luckily due to off season. The spokesman of the NARC assured, if the technology is adopted by the farmers properly then one can expect that this will help to bring radical changes for alleviating poverty in monsoon rain fall region of Punjab.
Source: onlinenews.com.pk

Read More