Pakistan Battles Severe Flooding Despite Record Harvests

By Stefanie Toth|4 January 2012

The Food and Agriculture Organization is indicating record growth for some Pakistan commodities despite two years of devastation caused by flooding in many parts of the country.

The country’s main stable crap is winter wheat, which farmers are currently planting despite unfavorable weather conditions, mainly rain. The FAO reported that the winter wheat crop harvested from April to June earlier this year reached a record 24.3 million tonnes, about 4.2% higher than the 2011 output, reflecting favorable weather, fertilizer subsidies and a government-implemented minimum support purchase.

Demand for wheat continues to grow, and the prices for wheat and wheat flour have risen in the last three months after a slight decline around the middle of 2011.

The estimated rice surplus for 2012 is forecast at about 3 million tonnes of rice. Consumer price inflation, which is currently at 10.2%, has caused domestic rice prices to increase 28% above normal levels since November 2011, according to the FAO.

Although Pakistan is the world’s fifth-largest rice exporter and continues to see record harvests, severe flooding has affected the daily lives of the country’s citizens. According to the FAO, the number of houses damaged or destroyed has reached nearly 1.5 million. The affected population has also suffered significant crop, livestock and grain stock losses.