Mogambo
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Seed losses threaten Pakistan's 2011 wheat harvest
Pakistan's floods have destroyed more than 500,000 tonnes of seed wheat, besides ruining some land, on the eve of the planting season, extending the country's agricultural concerns into next year's crop.
"The food security of millions will be at risk" if Pakistan's 2011 wheat crop is not "salvaged", the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said, appealing for funds to supply seeds to farmers.
Help was needed even for farmers whose own stores had escaped inundation, with the dearth of alternative foods prompting them to turn to seed wheat for uses such as making chapattis, a staple for rural populations.
Pakistan produced 24m tonnes of wheat in 2009-10, more than Australia, although its high level of domestic consumption make the country a small player in trade of the grain.
The country last week said it was likely to ditch plans for exporting 2m tonnes of wheat in 2010-11.
Need for seed
While last month's floods destroyed some 3.6m hectares of corn, cotton, rice and sugar cane, according to the FAO, they arrived after the wheat harvest, so sparing damage to standing crop.
However, besides destroying seed wheat, they disrupted preparations for sowings, which take place between September and mid-November, with no spring crop.
"Unless people get seeds over the next few weeks, they will not be able to plant wheat for a year," said Daniele Donati, the head of the FAO's emergency operations in the region.
While the floods had washed away top soil in some areas, rendering plantings "impossible", with some other areas still waterlogged, "in many areas it will be possible to plant as soon as the water recedes", the organisation said.
The FAO added that feed was needed for the more than 1m buffalo, cattle, sheep and goats which survived the flooding a little less than the number believed to have been destroyed, along with 6m poultry.
Agrimoney.com | Seed losses threaten Pakistan's 2011 wheat harvest
Pakistan's floods have destroyed more than 500,000 tonnes of seed wheat, besides ruining some land, on the eve of the planting season, extending the country's agricultural concerns into next year's crop.
"The food security of millions will be at risk" if Pakistan's 2011 wheat crop is not "salvaged", the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said, appealing for funds to supply seeds to farmers.
Help was needed even for farmers whose own stores had escaped inundation, with the dearth of alternative foods prompting them to turn to seed wheat for uses such as making chapattis, a staple for rural populations.
Pakistan produced 24m tonnes of wheat in 2009-10, more than Australia, although its high level of domestic consumption make the country a small player in trade of the grain.
The country last week said it was likely to ditch plans for exporting 2m tonnes of wheat in 2010-11.
Need for seed
While last month's floods destroyed some 3.6m hectares of corn, cotton, rice and sugar cane, according to the FAO, they arrived after the wheat harvest, so sparing damage to standing crop.
However, besides destroying seed wheat, they disrupted preparations for sowings, which take place between September and mid-November, with no spring crop.
"Unless people get seeds over the next few weeks, they will not be able to plant wheat for a year," said Daniele Donati, the head of the FAO's emergency operations in the region.
While the floods had washed away top soil in some areas, rendering plantings "impossible", with some other areas still waterlogged, "in many areas it will be possible to plant as soon as the water recedes", the organisation said.
The FAO added that feed was needed for the more than 1m buffalo, cattle, sheep and goats which survived the flooding a little less than the number believed to have been destroyed, along with 6m poultry.
Agrimoney.com | Seed losses threaten Pakistan's 2011 wheat harvest
