LARKANA: As many as 290,700 wheat bags have been increased in the wheat procurement target of the entire Larkana region during the current year keeping in view the market demand of the wheat flour. Sindh’s Food Department has fixed procurement targets during the current year at 3,802,700 bags which was 3,512,000 bags last year.

This was disclosed by credible sources here on Sunday who don’t want to be identified for fear of losing their postings. Target of all five districts of Larkana region has also been increased. According to the available figures, the target of Larkana district during previous year was 810,250 bags which has been increased by 35,350 bags during the current year bringing it to 845,600 bags.

Likewise, last year’s target of Kambar-Shahdadkot district was 100,250 bags which has been increased to 1,115,700, an increase of 115,450 bags. 440,000 bags was the target of Shikarpur last year which has been increased to 500,000, an increase of 60,000 bags. Jacobabad’s target was 440,250 bags which has been increased to 482,400, an increase of 42,150 bags and Kashmore district’s target was 821,250 bags last year which has been fixed this year at 859,000, an increase of 37,750 bags during the current procurement year.

The Food Department sources further claimed that all arrangements for procurement of wheat are being finalized and procurement will start from 1st April in the Larkana Region. It was also revealed that the Sindh Government failed to achieve the wheat procurement target last year because 205,283 bags were less procured last year in the Larkana region as 3,512,000 target was fixed last year whereas 3,306,717 bags were procured last year.

According to the figures as many as 74,985 bags were less procured from Larkana district, 30,096 bags from Kambar-Shahdadkot, 20,432 from Shikarpur, 5,430 from Jacobabad and 74,340 bags from Kashmore district.

Last year, 140 procurement centers were established across five districts of Larkana division out of which 21 were in Larkana district, 32 in Kambar-Shahdadkot, 14 in Shikarpur, 16 in Jacobabad, 66 in Kashmore and their number shall remain unchanged even during the current purchasing year, these sources further added.