Pak to export wheat despite forecasted slight fall

By IBTimes Staff Reporter | April 14 2010 11:32 AM

ISLAMABAD (Commodity Online): Pakistan will export wheat this year despite an expected slight fall in production as the forecasted output will outpace the country's annual demand, said Minister for Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal.

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The country is expected to produce 23.87 million metric tons of wheat against the annual demand of 22 million tons. Besides, it maintains a carryover stock of 3.5 million tons of wheat to meet emergencies.

Pakistan had produced 24.03 million tons of wheat in 2009. Earlier this month, the government said Pakistan would export 2 million tons of wheat this year because it was expecting a bumper crop.

Last year, it produced 12.7 million bales of cotton and 6.7 million tons of rice. The committee said the country's sugarcane production will rise to 53.7 million tons from 47 million tons last year because of better cropping patterns.

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