United Nations Radio

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday called for more international funds for the upcoming wheat planting season in Pakistan from September to November.

Pakistani carrying wheat stock seeds

FAO says that the floods covering land half the size of Italy have destroyed more than half a million wheat stock seed in Pakistan.

The agency points out that in the flood-affected areas, people are using wheat seed stocks that have not been affected by flooding to feed their families and the displaced people that they are sheltering.

The UN agriculture agency says that it has completed procurement for the provision of seeds to 200,000 farming families and if additional funding is committed soon, it will be able to double that number.

FAO notes that wheat-based flat bread, such as chapattis, is the main food of poor rural people in Pakistan.

According to FAO, wheat farmers in Pakistan were in the process of preparing their land for planting when the floods began.

It says in some areas the fertile top layer of soil has been washed away, making planting impossible and in other areas the land is still waterlogged or covered in silt and needs to be cleared.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
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