Senate body recommends wheat support price at Rs1,400.

ISLAMABAD -- Senate's Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research on Wednesday recommended fixing minimum wheat support price at Rs1,400 per 40kg to ensure better return to local farmers and to encourage them to grow additional wheat. The committee, which met with Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair, observed that wheat prices in local markets were the lowest when compared with regional markets. Besides, other crops, including oilseeds, have been providing better returns than wheat. Speaking on the occasion, the committee chairman noted that local wheat requirements would increase from 26 million tonnes to 36 million tonnes by 2028, adding that local farmers should be encouraged to grow additional wheat in order to meet the future demand. The committee was informed that about 2.353 million tonnes of wheat was available in the country, which was more than enough to cater to the local requirements.

Looking into the carry forward stocks of about one million tonnes, to be available by the arrival of new crop in the markets, it was decided that wheat would not be...