Sources said that rice is an important food as well as cash crop. After wheat, it is the second main staple food crop and second major exportable commodity after cotton, contributing 3.1 percent of value added in agriculture and 0.6 percent in GDP.
The government has set a target of covering 7.05 million acres with rice to achieve the production target of 7.2 million tons with 1,022 kg per acre yield. However, if water supply is not improved, the sowing as well as production is unlikely to be achieved, official added.
Pakistan Meteorological Department has estimated that snow cover during the winter season was 20 to 25 percent less than the average. Further rainfalls during April-June were forecast to be less than normal, while the temperature is expected to remain one to two centigrade warmer than the normal. Crops would remain under stress due to subsequent water shortage during Kharif season.
Talking to Business Recorder, General Secretary Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Kashif Rehman said that the country would achieve $2 billion export target of rice this year, but there are several issues in increasing production. He said that country lacks the latest technology to get huge crop with lesser water. The country is facing severe water shortage and affecting rice sowing target.
He further said that there are seed as well as supply chain problems, starting from growers to exporters, which are hindering increase in production as well as exports target.
Another official said that Pakistan rice export to Qatar has been banned for the last five years though Qatar had been a major rice buyer of Pakistan. Pakistan exported over 50,000 metric tons of basmati rice worth $50 million along with 36,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice worth more than $21 million in 2012-13. But the export graph went downward to 15,000 metric tons of basmati in 2014-15.
Pakistan is pursuing an application for the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of importers of rice, said the official, adding that Commerce Ministry needs to utilize all available diplomatic channels in this regard. The Commerce Ministry should take strenuous efforts to enhance Pakistan's trade volume with Qatar. The ministry, in this regard, can fully activate the commercial section at the Pakistani embassy in Doha, which would help in increasing rice exports, official added.
Pakistan would also benefit from the price competitiveness against its competitors, Thailand, Vietnam etc. As Indian rice has lost its market in European countries due to excessive pesticide residue, Pakistani rice exporters have the opportunity to capture the EU market.