He lamented that the government was until recently releasing 220kg wheat daily per store, which has now been reduced to 170kg.Īs a result, wheat was purchased from the open market where 100kg bag was available at Rs6,000-Rs6,100 exclusive of overhead cost. It’s also inclusive of Rs2 per kg profit margin on our part,” said Haji Mohammad Memon of Atta Chakki Owners Associations. “We incur Rs16.40 per kg overhead cost on the conversion flour from grain. Meanwhile, wheat is being released at the rate of Rs48.75 per kg to chakkis (flour grinding units), which are selling flour at Rs70 to Rs75 per kg. “Instead of importing wheat, it should be purchased from local farmers,” he said. In the last two years, the only price controlling measure of the government was releasing its stocks, he said, adding that when the government had lower stocks, the private sector increased the prices. Sindh Abadgar Board Vice President Mahmood Nawaz Shah pointed out that both federal and provincial governments should increase procurement targets for wheat for the coming year. A tonne of wheat would be procured for Rs55,000.
The food department would require Rs75bn if the new procurement target is fixed at 1.4m tonnes. Wheat releases are under way and the department anticipates recovering Rs78bn until March. It would be raised again in view of a higher support price of Rs2,200 this year.įood officials claimed that the provincial food department has to clear Rs152bn liabilities of banks besides a markup of 7.8pc over the principal amount. The CCL of Rs130 billion last season was revised to Rs152bn in the outgoing season. Last year, the Sindh government sought approval from the federal government for enhancing the cash credit limit (CCL) in view of an increase in the support price. Around 350,000 wheat is to be released by December and the remaining stock by March. Sindh’s food department has also started releasing wheat from its godowns at Rs4,875 per 100kg bag. Provincial government’s buying target expected to remain unchanged at 1.4m tonnes for upcoming season The Sindh government fixed grain’s support price of Rs2,000 per 40kg last year, which has been raised to Rs2,200 this year. Last year, the food department managed to buy 1.2m tonnes of wheat against the procurement target of 1.4m tonnes. The procurement target would remain unchanged at 1.4m tonnes for the upcoming season as well, he said. He agreed that starting the exercise in April affects procurement. “We have serious plans to start the procurement drive by March 15 instead of April in order to capitalise on the early harvesting trend in the Mirpurkhas zone of lower Sindh,” Haleem Shaikh, the provincial food secretary, told Dawn on Saturday. HYDERABAD: Sindh’s food department plans to start procuring wheat from March 15 instead of its usual procurement exercise schedule that begins from the middle or by late April.
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