BaDaR
16th April 2008, 04:47
ISLAMABAD: Trade of newly harvested wheat crop is much below the government’s fixed price of Rs625 per 40kg in two districts of Punjab. This has alarmed the federal government that prices might further plunge.
A tense situation, including the possibility of violence, can develop if growers do not get the guaranteed price for their produce. This would be because of Punjab’s move to restrict trade only to the public sector and force the private sector out of business, said a wheat trader requesting anonymity.
Wheat trading in Rajanpur and Bahawalnagar on the first day of the new crop was reported at Rs550 per 40kg, against the fixed price of Rs625. This was mainly attributed to Punjab’s verbal direction to DFCs and DCOs, to strictly monitor inter-district movement of the commodity, a trader from Bahawalnagar told The News on Tuesday.
The Punjab government has directed authorities of district food departments and district coordination officers to strictly follow the inter-district movement of the commodity. The move, which is clearly violating the current wheat policy of 2008, is only intended to achieve the procurement target.
Private traders are absent from the business of the commodity, and only food departments and PASSCO will buy the produce at the announced price of Rs625 per 40kg, said another trader. “This will encourage monopoly of the public sector in grain procurement, ultimately leading not only to unhealthy business practices, but also plunging prices,” the trader stated.
Secretary Food, Punjab, Seerat Asghar was not available to comment on the issue even after repeated attempts to contact him.
Monitoring teams at the bordering districts of Punjab like Attock, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Bhakkar are taking bribe of Rs5000-1000 per truck for their entry into other provinces, alleged a senior government official of MINFAL. He has reports of bribes being taken at these exit points of the province, he added. Punjab government is following the footsteps of Elahi’s government. This would also not only worsen the situation, but the Punjab government could also face riots and protests from the farming community, the official added.
Farmers in Sindh are getting announced wheat prices and there is no shortage of wheat in the province. Therefore, releases to the flourmills have been stopped, Secretary Food, Sindh, Navid Kamran Baloch told The News.
Provincial food departments have so far procured 85,000 tonnes of wheat in interior Sindh and hopefully, the provincial food department will achieve the procurement target of the commodity, Kamran added.
About the fixing of flour price for the next year in the province, Secretary Food Sindh said that it would be decided after examining the market.
Wheat being traded below fixed price in Punjab (http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=107042)
A tense situation, including the possibility of violence, can develop if growers do not get the guaranteed price for their produce. This would be because of Punjab’s move to restrict trade only to the public sector and force the private sector out of business, said a wheat trader requesting anonymity.
Wheat trading in Rajanpur and Bahawalnagar on the first day of the new crop was reported at Rs550 per 40kg, against the fixed price of Rs625. This was mainly attributed to Punjab’s verbal direction to DFCs and DCOs, to strictly monitor inter-district movement of the commodity, a trader from Bahawalnagar told The News on Tuesday.
The Punjab government has directed authorities of district food departments and district coordination officers to strictly follow the inter-district movement of the commodity. The move, which is clearly violating the current wheat policy of 2008, is only intended to achieve the procurement target.
Private traders are absent from the business of the commodity, and only food departments and PASSCO will buy the produce at the announced price of Rs625 per 40kg, said another trader. “This will encourage monopoly of the public sector in grain procurement, ultimately leading not only to unhealthy business practices, but also plunging prices,” the trader stated.
Secretary Food, Punjab, Seerat Asghar was not available to comment on the issue even after repeated attempts to contact him.
Monitoring teams at the bordering districts of Punjab like Attock, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Bhakkar are taking bribe of Rs5000-1000 per truck for their entry into other provinces, alleged a senior government official of MINFAL. He has reports of bribes being taken at these exit points of the province, he added. Punjab government is following the footsteps of Elahi’s government. This would also not only worsen the situation, but the Punjab government could also face riots and protests from the farming community, the official added.
Farmers in Sindh are getting announced wheat prices and there is no shortage of wheat in the province. Therefore, releases to the flourmills have been stopped, Secretary Food, Sindh, Navid Kamran Baloch told The News.
Provincial food departments have so far procured 85,000 tonnes of wheat in interior Sindh and hopefully, the provincial food department will achieve the procurement target of the commodity, Kamran added.
About the fixing of flour price for the next year in the province, Secretary Food Sindh said that it would be decided after examining the market.
Wheat being traded below fixed price in Punjab (http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=107042)