Under the Prime Minister’s agricultural reform activities PARC is promoting research for productivity enhancement of pulses in Pakistan. In this regard, Special Advisor to PM on Food Security, Mr. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema conducted a comprehensive meeting on the developments of the project “Productivity Enhancement of Pulses” at PARC Headquarter on Tuesday evening.
Mr. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, SAPM on Food Security says “In 2019-20 pulses crop was cropped on an area of 1191.8 thousand hectares with production of 716.7 thousand tonnes. The country requirements were 1190 thousand tonnes with a shortfall of 593.1 thousand tonnes. Pakistan imported 537 thousand tonnes worth import value of 681 million US dollars. Last year import substitution of 129 Million USD through increased production of Mungbean and Gram, 75000 and 35000 tons respectively (FCA, 2020). Pakistan has saved $129 million through import substitution by additional production of 76,000 tons and 53,000 tons of mung and gram respectively as compared to last year (FCA).
In the meeting Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, added in his view that overall target of pulses seed distribution of the project is providing seed of chickpea, Mung, Mash, Lentil and kidney bean sufficient for 1,23,160 Acres. In 2020-21 pulses seed distributed on 50% cost sharing that is sufficient for 35694 acres against the targeted 30000 acres. Among the seed 61 tonnes was distributed in Baluchistan, 198.48 tonnes in Punjab and 91.885 in KP.
While providing details, Dr. Manssor Joyia, Project Director (Pulses) PARC told that Project overall target of Pulses Machinery Distribution is 2495 number. Till now 127 different kind of machinery including spray pump, multi-crop thresher, digital balance, boom sprayers, multi-crop seed drill has been distributed in the country to promote pulses production. Till now 19 spray pumps has been distributed. Provision of Portable Solar Irrigation System on 50% cost sharing basis to the farmers is one such initiative which would come in handy especially for pulses production on sandy dunes (Thal area).
The Pulses PD also expressed, project overall target of demonstration plots for different pulses crops is 400. In 2019-20 the achievement was 107 against the targeted 172 and 2020-21 we achieved more than the target number which is 394 till now. The overall target of production technology trials for different pulses crops is 200 trails. In 2019-20 the achievement was 52 against the targeted 50 and 2020-21 the achieved number till now 66 against the targeted 50 number. Whereas 20 Water Air Gun also distributed in Thal areas.
