Pakistan is
among the top producers of cotton, rice, sugarcane, wheat, mango, kinnow (tangerine)
and some other crops. The country is also among the top ten largest producers
of milk. However, nearly 10 percent of food grains and up to 40 percent of fruits
produced goes stale before reaching the market. Only 5 percent of total milk
produced in the country is packed in tetra packs. This on one hand deprives
growers of their rightful return and on the other hand does not allow the
country to earn foreign exchange, needed most desperately for the economic
growth.
In an
attempt to help the farmers boost production and yield, the State Bank of Pakistan (central bank) embarked upon ambitious agri lending program. Now the
annual disbursement to farmers is inching close to Rs400 billion or US$4
billion. The endeavor is fully supported by insurance companies operating in
the country. This initiative has helped Pakistan in joining ‘club of wheat
exporting countries’. At the close of current sugarcane crushing season,
refined sugar output is likely to touch 4.7 million tons with exportable surplus
of 0.5 million tons. The country is also likely to get nearly 13.5 million
bales of cotton. Pakistan is already exporting huge quantity of rice,
especially ‘Basmati’, with unique aroma. However it continues to import edible
oil worth US$2 billion annually.
To further reinforce
support to farmers the central bank offers loans for construction of modern
warehouses on concessional interest rate. The need for warehousing facilities
can be gauged from the fact that Pakistan produces nearly 40 million tons of
different cereals, out of this wheat alone accounts for 25 million tons. As
against this, the country has warehousing capacity of around 5 million tons.
Storage of grains in ‘technical not fit warehouses’ is the single biggest
reason of nearly 10 per cent going stale and not being suitable for human
consumption.
In yet
another initiative the central bank has formed a working group for developing ‘Warehouse
Receipt Financing’. The working group will have representatives from leading
commercial banks, Islamic banks, International Finance Corporation (IFC). The
central bank aims at working closely with Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX),
financial institutions, farmers and other stakeholders to structure and rollout
system of warehouse receipt financing in the country on fast track basis.
Deputy
Governor of the SBP, Saeed Ahmad recently chaired a meeting on formulation of the
Group. Talking to the representatives of different stakeholders, he said “Adoption
of warehouse receipt financing system would facilitate development of efficient
and accessible rural financial system. Development of physical trade and marketing
system of commodities would improve performance of the agricultural sector. Financial
institutions would find it profitable to lend money for the construction of new
warehouses”.
This
initiative offers tremendous opportunities to companies involved in this trade
around the globe. These entities can form joint ventures with Pakistani
entrepreneurs by involving IFC; mobilize funds globally or by listing the companies
at the Karachi Stock Exchange. Central bank already has a plan for extending soft-term
loans for the construction of warehouses. Those interested in construction of
warehouses can also approach National Bank of Pakistan enjoying the largest
share in lending to farmers for inputs and developmental work.
