By Aleeza nawab
Wheat is the grass that is grown all over the world for its edible seeds that are rich in nutrition. People used to cultivate wheat [Triticum aestivum] over 10,000 years ago. Among the most produced crops in the world, wheat is one of them. Pakistan is among the biggest producer of wheat because the land of Pakistan is fertile. Most people depend on wheat for food. It grows about 4-5 feet with kernels enclosed by spikes. Wheat is an annual plant, and farmers need to grow wheat every year. Early domestications wanted the plant with big kernels, but wheat is a self-pollinating plant. It needs to be pollinated with other plants for improving the nutritious value and kernel size. But due to illiteracy farmers combine various seeds during harvesting and spread them randomly in the field. In United States two varieties of wheat are used one is winter wheat [planted in fall and mature in summer] and other is spring wheat [planted after frost danger and mature in summer]. Farmers with good sequential practices don’t need to plant wheat annually. In Pakistan wheat is grown under different ecological zones. Regions with good irrigation, wheat is cultivated with maize sorghum and pearl millet. Recent studies show that during 2014-2015 Punjab produces highest yield of about 6901.4 million metric tons as compared to other district the yield of Sindh was 1121, KPK 12.9, Baluchistan 399 metric tons During financial year 2020 the estimated production of wheat In the northern Punjab was 17 million metric ton. Wheat is grown in all over Punjab except sub mountainous regions. But during the present year, due to floods all over Punjab, the yield of wheat is suspected to be decreased. Because the land is still flooded with water and in water logged soils wheat cannot be sown.
Wheat is staple food cultivated over 22million acres and account for 7.8% of value added in agriculture and 1.8% of GDP .Decrease in the yield caused increased prices .The farmers are unable to buy good fertilizer .As we all know that Pakistan is major producer of wheat form which many edible foods are made .We cannot compromise on agricultural sector .During 2021-2022 the areas sown has been decreased due to shortage of irrigated water and high intensity of sunlight during march and April that results in water drought at sowing stages .The sown areas are decreased up to 8976 hectares against the last year of 9168 thousand hectares .The production declined 26.399 million metric tons last year .
Growth of the agricultural sector is important for food security and economic balance. Agricultural sector provides 37.4% employment to labors and 27.7% to GDP. During COVID-19 period, the prices have increased and that disturbed employers, farmers, and also foreign exchange. The government has taken initiative for upgrading agricultural sector. To protect the peoples of Pakistan from hunger a wheat campaign has been established by Government of Punjab to help farmers in sowing and growing wheat.
On 20 October 2022 Punjab Agricultural minister “Hussain Jahania Gardezi” initiated 9-day wheat campaign in which over 50,000 Agricultural university students will visit their nearby agricultural fields under supervision of agricultural extension officers. The aim is to educate farmers about related trends of wheat and increasing wheat production. He said that production of punjab per acre at this moment is 31 mounds. If it is increased by 2 mounds, the yield may increase up to 3.2 million tons. Due to the devastating flood, it is the responsibility of Punjab to back up the targeted yield. To make wheat cultivation profitable the price per mound has increased from 2200-3000.The better results of campaign will be achieved, if students pass out first hand information about modern methods of wheat cultivation including the certified seeds, drill method of sowing better use of fertilizer and land preparation. Director general agricultural extension “Anjum Ali “said that the extension department is determined to give recommendations to 22000 villages. During last year, agricultural campaign has increased wheat production upto20-30% in arid regions. So like previous years the campaign is in a process that is hopefully leading to better results. In this campaign the students of PMAS-AAUR has taken a part in increasing awareness about wheat campaign especially Dr Noshin Ilyas Assistant professor in botany department herself reported the Kallar Syedan an extension office along with her own M. Phil students.