Suchergebnisse

Prices of wheat and rice showed divergent trends during the
period October to December 1961. While prices of wheat in the Lyallpur
market recorded a net advance of Rs. 0.25 per maund over the period
under review, prices of rice (msdium quality) in the Dacca market
registered a net decline of Rs. 3.60 per maund. In the case of wheat,
price fluctuations were small and there was no deterioration in the
overall supply situation. Moreover, as compared with prices a year ago,
the end-December 1961 prices were around Rs. 1.25—2.00 per maund lower
at Rs. 14.00—16.25 per maund. On the other hand, a sharp increase in the
prices of rice at Dacca from Rs. 32.40 per maund at the close of
September to Rs. 37.60 in October was held in check only after the
release of government-held stocks. Subsequently, prices fell
persistently when the 'aman' crop was harvested and the market received
continued inflow of the new crop. By the end of December, medium quality
rice reflected a greater decline than the earlier increase in prices so
that the quarter under review closed with a net fall of Rs. 3.60 per
maund of Rs. 28.80. However, the corresponding quotation a year ago was
still lower at Rs. 27.50.

During the period, July-September 1961, the Lyallpur market
experienced a further decline of Rs. 0.75 per maund in wheat prices. The
end-September quotations stood at Rs. 13.75—16.00 per maund as against
Rs. 14.50—16.00 three months ago and Rs. 15.50—17.00 a year ago. On the
other hand, rice prices continued to increase at the Dacca market, which
necessitated large releases of Government stocks at a fixed rate of Rs.
22.75 per maund. Nevertheless, the net increase in prices amounted to
Rs. 2.40 per maund over the quarter under review. At the close of
September, mediumquality rice ruled at Rs. 32.40 per maund and compared
with Rs. 30.00 per maund three months ago and Rs. 32.50 a year ago.
Further details are given in the table below:

During the period under review, from October 1960 to March
1961, prices of wheat at Lyallpur (West Pakistan) recorded a small net
increase while prices of rice at Dacca (East Pakistan) registered an
appreciable net decline. (See Table below) Wheat prices at Lyallpur
showed a persistent tendency to rise owing partly to drought conditions
and partly to withholding of stocks by traders in expectation of
shortages of foodgrains following enlarged shipments to the cyclone
affected areas of East Pakistan. Prices touched a peak of Rs. 17/12/-
18/14/- in the middle of January from Rs. 15/8/- 17/- per maund at the
close of September 1960. The continued release of government stocks at a
fixed rate of Rs. 16/- per maund through 250 centres was a major factor
for the reversal in the rising trend in prices. The onset of winter
rains also had a favourable impact on prices. As a result, there was a
marked decline in prices which closed finally at Rs. 16/- to 17/- at the
end of March 1961. Meanwhile, the final estimate of wheat crop for
1959-60 placed output at about 0.6 per cent higher at 3,876,000 tons
compared with the preceding year, the area under wheat cultivation
having risen by 1.6 per cent to 12,193,000 acres. However, the first
forecast of wheat crop for 1960-61 places the cultivated area at
10,428,000 acres or a decline of 16.0 per cent as against the first
forecast for 1959-60.