Pakistan exported about 3.6 million tones of rice of a total value of $ 1.1 billion in the fiscal year of 2005-6, Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) Minister Sikandar Bosan says. At the moment the wheat situation in Pakistan is quite comfortable, the minister told the reporters.There are sufficient wheat stocks in the country, he added. "As of July 16 this year, stocks in the public sector amount to 6.547 MMTs. Last year at the same point in time, Pakistan had 4.164 MMTs of wheat", Bosan said. He said that Rice production during the year 2005-06 touched 5.5 million tones, higher by 10% over the last year 2004-05. The minister said that in 2001-02, the rice production was 3.88 million tones. The rice production, he said, increased by 42% during the last 5 years. "This increase became possible because of the various steps taken by MINFAL and the provincial governments like electronic media, improved seed availability from 15% to 40% and better crop management practices which helped increase in the number of plants per acre from 45 to 65 per acre on average.” Bosan said that Pakistan requirement is about 2.2 million tones while the rest is available for export. Export of rice continues to increase since 2001-02. During 2001-02 the total export of rice was 1.7 million tones which reached 1.8 million tones in 2003-04 and in 2004-05 to the level of 2.9 million tones. The minister said that in 2005-06 about 3.6 million tons rice valuing $ 1.1 billion was exported. The higher export demand helps in providing better price to the farmers for their produce. Bosan added that on world level Pakistan rank's 10th in the rice production and is the 4th largest exporter of rice. On its strength of current export it is estimated that share of Pakistan's rice export in the world may go up from 6% to 10%. The minister said that during the last year 2005-06 paddy prices in the market remained below around Rs 270/40 kg.
