APP: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has said that reduction in cost of production of different crops is of high importance for farmers.

He said this while addressing a Standing Committee meeting on National Food Security and Research held at Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by the committee's chairman Malik Shakir Bashir Awan.

The minister said that about 98 percent of wheat sowing had been completed and sufficient wheat was available in stock as well. Bosan said that if electricity load shedding could be overcome in the country then agriculture sector could also flourish as well, only special attention was required for the uplift of the sector. The meeting discussed the current government stock situation of wheat, next wheat crop outlook, how to enter into new wheat crop procurement with current stock situation.

Chairman of the committee said that two million tons of wheat would be exported and out of which, Punjab would export 1.5 million tons of wheat while Sindh would export 0.5 million tons of wheat. He further said that 70 percent of export would be carried out through sea route and 30 percent via land. The export would be completed by June 30, he added.

The meeting was attended by Capt (Rtd) Muhammad Safdar, Ch Iftikhar Nazir, Shahnaz Saleem, Kishwer Zehra, Parveen Masood Bhatti and other members.