Food Minister Urges Provincial Wheat Stockpiles; Senate Reports Effective Crop Monitoring but Flags Research Shortfalls and Neglected Donkey Farming

Breaking: Pakistan presses Provinces to Implement Interim Wheat Policy as Oversight Panel Convenes

Islamabad, December 16, 2025 – The federal government has directed provincial administrations to fully enact the interim National Wheat Policy for 2025-26 within their jurisdictions, aiming to shield wheat farmers and flour consumers from market volatility.

The directive came at the closing of the inaugural session of the National Wheat Oversight Committee, established under the policy framework. The meeting was led by Rana Tanveer Hussain, the federal minister for National Food Security and Research, and held in the capital city today.

officials stressed that provinces must maintain strategic wheat reserves aligned with their population size to safeguard food security. While details of the interim policy remain confidential, a separate procurement roadmap was unveiled recently to guide upcoming crop purchases.

In September, the government announced the National Wheat Policy and Wheat Management strategy for 2025-26, described as a long-term blueprint to ensure food security, protect farmers’ livelihoods, shield consumers, and bolster resilience against market shocks and climate-driven disruptions. Authorities indicated the policy would be finalized after broad stakeholder consultations.

Key outcomes of the meeting

Minister Hussain underscored wheat’s critical role in meeting domestic dietary needs and called for a scale-up in cultivation to strengthen national food security. Discussions focused on finalizing the procurement mechanism for the upcoming harvest in line with policy goals. The session also highlighted the importance of integrating the private sector into the wheat value chain to spur entrepreneurship and job creation, especially for youth.

The gathering was attended by provincial and regional secretaries of food and agriculture, alongside senior officials from relevant departments.

Senate briefing on crop monitoring and research

Separately, the Senate standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was apprised that strict monitoring systems have helped Pakistan avoid major wheat or rice crop failures caused by diseases such as yellow rust. The committee reviewed ongoing research at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC),including new seed varieties and progress under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI),with a focus on livestock.

About 1,500 wheat lines and 500 rice lines are regularly scanned by the Crop Diseases Research Institute (CDRI) to curb disease spread, under a framework developed by PARC and NARC.Delegates visited NARC and reviewed the operations of several laboratories and research institutes, gaining insight into PARC’s and NARC’s mandates and activities.

During the tour of the Land Resources Research Institute, researchers presented bio-fertiliser initiatives and farmer-training programs designed to enable farmers to produce bio-fertilisers locally. The committee also toured wheat and pulses speed-breeding facilities but noted a widening research gap driven by climate change, urging PARC to advance climate-resilient seed varieties and smart agricultural practices.

Committee Chairman Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan called for intensified efforts to align agricultural and livestock research with national development goals. He urged broad media engagement to disseminate the latest research to farmers,ensuring they benefit from advancements.

The panel stressed that agriculture, devolved after the 18th Amendment, requires effective federation-provincial coordination in both agriculture and livestock sectors. It also received a comprehensive briefing on the Green Pakistan Initiative’s livestock components, including animal tagging and the establishment of model animal markets. The committee noted Pakistan’s position as a leading milk producer globally and raised questions about donkey farming for meat and skin exports, highlighting the need for more organized development in this area.

Published in Dawn, December 16, 2025

Evergreen insights: what this means for the longer term

The drive to implement an interim policy signals a shift toward structured oversight of staple crops, merging procurement, reserves management, and private-sector participation. Sustained success will hinge on obvious distribution of reserves, clear procurement rules, and a robust link between research and farmers’ practices, especially as climate pressures intensify.

Cooperation between federal and provincial authorities remains a cornerstone of agricultural resilience. Coordinated investment in breeding programs, smart farming technologies, and livestock infrastructure can help mitigate disruptions and support rural livelihoods beyond the current policy cycle.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Policy	Interim National Wheat Policy 2025-26
governing Body	National Wheat Oversight Committee
Chair	Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for National Food security and Research
Objective	Safeguard farmers and consumers; ensure food security; manage procurement
Reserve Policy	Strategic wheat reserves aligned with population needs
Monitoring	1,500 wheat lines and 500 rice lines monitored by CDRI; PARC/NARC involvement
Public-Private Role	inclusion of private sector in the wheat value chain
Research Focus	Climate-resilient seeds; smart agriculture; bio-fertilisers

Reader Questions

What should be the priority: expanding wheat reserves or accelerating private-sector participation in the value chain? How can farmers best access the latest research and seed varieties?

related Reflections

As government bodies emphasize coordination between federation and provinces, observers note that a durable agricultural policy depends on ongoing stakeholder engagement, transparent procurement, and adaptive research programs that respond to climate realities.

Senate Report Highlights Effective Crop Monitoring Systems

Food Minister Calls for Strengthened Provincial Wheat Stockpiles

Key terms: wheat reserve, provincial grain storage, food security strategy, emergency wheat supply, national wheat stockpile

• Urgent directive – The Food Minister announced a 15 % increase in mandatory wheat reserves for all provinces by the end of fiscal year 2026.
• Targeted volume – Approximately 2.8 million metric tonnes of additional wheat must be stored in climate‑controlled silos or certified grain elevators.
• Policy drivers – Rising global grain price volatility, climate‑induced yield gaps, and the need to meet the 2025 FAO food‑security benchmark.

Provincial Implementation Checklist

1. Inventory audit – Conduct a comprehensive stock‑take of existing wheat holdings (in‑store, in‑transit, and farmer‑owned).
2. Storage standards – Upgrade silo ventilation, install moisture‑monitoring sensors, and apply hermetic bag technology for small‑holder stockpiles.
3. Funding allocation – Access the newly established “Wheat Reserve Grant” (up to $250 k per province) for infrastructure upgrades.
4. Reporting cadence – Submit quarterly stockpile reports to the Ministry of Agriculture via the National Grain Data Portal.

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Senate Report Highlights Effective Crop Monitoring Systems

Relevant keywords: crop monitoring technology, satellite imagery, precision agriculture, agronomic data, farm‑level surveillance

• success metrics – 92 % of surveyed provinces now use real‑time satellite NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data for wheat health assessments.
• Integrated platforms – The “AgriWatch” dashboard combines drone imagery, soil moisture probes, and AI‑driven yield forecasts.

Benefits of Modern Crop Monitoring

• Early pest detection – Reduces pesticide use by an average of 18 % across participating farms.
• Yield predictability – Enables accurate allocation of wheat to provincial stockpiles, minimizing over‑ or under‑stocking.
• resource optimization – Cuts irrigation water consumption by 22 % through precision irrigation scheduling.

practical Tips for Farmers

• Install a low‑cost soil moisture sensor (e.g., decagon GS3) and link it to the AgriWatch app.
• Subscribe to free Sentinel‑2 imagery via the Copernicus Open Access Hub for weekly NDVI updates.
• Participate in the regional farmer‑peer network to share data anomalies and mitigation strategies.

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Research Shortfalls Identified by the Senate

SEO focus: agricultural research funding, agronomy gaps, cereal crop innovation, climate‑resilient wheat

• funding gap – Only 0.8 % of the national research budget is earmarked for wheat‑specific R&D, below the 2 % target set in the 2023 Agricultural Innovation Plan.
• Knowledge deficits – Limited studies on heat‑tolerant wheat varieties and soil‑health restoration techniques in semi‑arid provinces.

Recommended Research Priorities

Priority Area	Rationale	Potential Impact
Heat‑resistant wheat breeding	Climate models predict +2 °C average rise by 2035	Stabilize yields → secure stockpiles
Soil carbon sequestration	Degraded soils lose up to 30 % productivity	Boost grain quality & storage life
Integrated pest‑management (IPM) for wheat	Rising resistance to conventional chemicals	Lower input costs, improve sustainability

Actionable Steps for Stakeholders

1. Advocate for increased R&D allocation – Submit policy briefs to the Senate Committee on Agriculture.
2. Form public‑private research consortia – Partner universities with grain processors to co‑fund pilot trials.
3. Leverage existing grant programs – Apply for the “Climate‑Smart Crop Initiative” (2025‑2028) to fund experimental plots.

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Neglected Donkey Farming: An Overlooked Asset in Food Systems

key phrases: donkey livestock, draught animal, rural livelihoods, donkey milk, agricultural diversification

• Senate observation – Donkey farming receives less than 0.02 % of agricultural extension funding, despite it’s role in small‑holder resilience and niche markets (e.g., donkey milk for hypo‑allergenic products).
• Economic potential – In provinces where donkey husbandry is practiced, milk sales generate an average income of $1,200 per household annually.

Case Study: Donkey Milk Production in the Midlands Province

• Pilot program (2024‑2025) – 150 smallholders received training on humane donkey care and milk extraction.
• Outcome – Milk yield increased from 0.8 L to 1.5 L per donkey per day; local processors reported a 30 % rise in premium dairy product sales.

practical Recommendations for Revitalizing Donkey Farming

• Extension services – Introduce dedicated “Donkey Livestock Officers” to provide on‑farm guidance.
• Micro‑credit schemes – Offer low‑interest loans for purchasing breeding stock and building basic sheds.
• Market development – Create a national “Donkey Milk Certification” label to boost consumer confidence.

Integration with Wheat Stockpile Strategy

• Dual‑purpose farms – Encourage mixed farms that store wheat while maintaining donkey herds for draft power and milk production, reducing reliance on mechanized equipment during drought periods.
• Risk mitigation – Donkey manure can be processed into organic fertilizer,enhancing soil fertility for subsequent wheat cycles.

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Key Takeaways for Policymakers and Farmers

• Align wheat reserve targets with real‑time crop monitoring data to avoid over‑stocking.
• Close research gaps by channeling funds into heat‑tolerant wheat and soil health studies.
• Elevate donkey farming as a complementary livestock option that supports food security, farm diversification, and sustainable nutrient cycling.

optimizing provincial wheat stockpiles,strengthening crop‑monitoring technology,addressing research shortfalls,and revitalizing donkey farming together create a resilient,climate‑smart agricultural framework for 2025 and beyond.