Nisar A Memon, former federal minister and senator.

WHEAT, world's most important crop and Pakistan's staple diet is human food with source of calories, protein, minerals and certain vitamins. The USDA's annual report on grain in Pakistan states that 80 percent of farmers grow wheat on over 9 million hectares or 40 percent of Pakistan's agricultural land. It accounts for 10 percent of value added in agriculture and contributes over two percent to GDP. While wheat flour, forms around 72 percent of the nation's daily caloric intake.With estimated 124kg of annual per-capita consumption, Pakistan is one of the world's foremost consumers of wheat. The world average consumption is around 68kg as per the FAO.

Pakistan lately is facing wheat crisis. Should the minister for national food security resign just like it is suggested and demanded in various other crises like railway accidents, gas shortages, increased petroleum prices, reduced water availability, and failing economy that the concerned ministers should resign? There are voices demanding resignation of chief minister Punjab due to weak governance and even Prime Minister's resignation due to overall unsatisfactory situation in the country, including the inability to manage routine extensions of important security positions and delay in appointments to key constitutional positions.

Unlike other countries, we do not have resignation tradition but recent removal or changes in cabinet like in finance ministry is acceptance of failure of leadership in those areas.

We believe these are the questions and subjects for parliament to deliberate but the input from print, electronic and social media is important. If suppressed. the communication gap between those in government and the ones they govern will increase with its adverse impact.

Good news: Pakistan in 2019 ranks in the top 8 wheat producing countries of the world, with an average 25 million tons per year. But the challenge: the country's wheat productivity is not that impressive. According to the World Bank, Pakistan's cereal yield during 2010 to 2014 was 2722 kg per hectare, as against India's 2962 kg per hectare and Bangladesh's 4357 kg per hectare. However, the USDA expects our figure to improve to over 2800 kg per hectare this year. Let the concerned government departments update their statistics for us to know where we stand today.

Our institutions have been researching on wheat and some 152 wheat varieties have been released in Pakistan so far and a significant number in last decade...