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Economic managers see farm output beyond target

JAVED MEHMOOD

ISLAMABAD: Economic managers of the government are expecting beyond the projected growth of the agriculture sector in the financial year 1999-2000 due to bumper production of major crops, it was learnt.

The government has projected 4.3 percent growth in the agriculture during this fiscal, but beyond the target production of cotton, rice and expected bumper crop of wheat are set to give a boost to agriculture growth beyond the budgetary estimates, sources in the ministries of Finance and Food and Agriculture said.

They said except sugarcane the production of rice and raw cotton had exceeded the official estimates while the recent rains in the country have brightened the chances of above the target production of wheat in 1999-2000.

The government, they also said, placed the rice output at 4.7 million tonnes and cotton at 9.5 million bales, but the rice production had been reported at 4.9 million tonnes and cotton at 10.5 million bales.

The Wheat output was placed at 20 million tonnes, but actual production of this crop is being seen around 21 million tonnes due to increase in the area under cultivation in the wake of increase in the support price to Rs 300 per 40-kg and moderate rains.

If the wheat production exceeded the official estimate no doubt the growth of agricultural would be much higher than the official projection, added officials.

Decline in the production of sugar has disappointed the economic managers. The government projected nearly 3.9 million tonnes sugar production in 1998-99, but its actual output is being reported in the vicinity of 3 million tonnes.

However, still the final output of sugar is unclear as the government and the industry are at loggerheads on the volume of production.

Government officials are claiming sugar production below three million tonnes while the industry is placing it above three million tonnes.

It is expected that the government would give its verdict on sugar cane production in the second week of this month.