the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

325ControlliDg fungal diseasesThe incidence of sclerotium andhelminthosporium infections can causenear crop failures (5). Practical andinexpensive control measures are beingdeveloped. as well as methods ofapplying fungicides.Controlling weedsWeed control constitutes as much as20% of wheat production costs on manyfarms. While available farm labor favorsmanual or mechanical weeding. this is alabor-intensive activity and is expensive.Developing post-harvesttechniques and toolsPaddy rice threshers used for wheat givelow threshing recovery. Threshers arenow being developed that are specific forwheat. Post-harvest technology is now apart of farmer training.EstabUshing anefficient marketing systemWheat is a new addition to NFA's grainmarketing program. The flour millsshould provide a market for local wheatas its volume increases.Economic ConsiderationsProjecting economicgains on <strong>the</strong> macro levelSince 1975. total wheat imports havetotaled 6.732.178 tons (4). Thebreakthrough in commercial productionwould definitely save precious dollars for<strong>the</strong> country. At an average yield of 1.5tons per hectare. some 600.000 hectaresof land are needed to meet presentannual consumption. Since wheat isbest in rice-based areas. follOWing <strong>the</strong>regular rice crop. <strong>the</strong> displacement ofsome of <strong>the</strong> second rice crop and o<strong>the</strong>rcash crops is inevitable.Making wheat comparativelyprofitable with o<strong>the</strong>r cropsExcept for high-value cash crops. wheatshould generate a return on investmentcomparable to that of maize. peanuts,mungbean and rice itself. Highproduction costs plus erratic yieldshave been responsible for a low returnon investment and even losses. Anincrease in government farm pricesubsidy is under consideration.Improving qualityto meet standardsThe inferior quality of locally producedwheat is at present a problem beingfaced by research and extensionpersonnel. Meanwhile, products madefrom local wheat can be improved byblending with premium importedwheat.Organizing cooperativewheat farmingIn <strong>the</strong> absence of large farms within <strong>the</strong>wheat belt. wheat is grown onindividual small farms; farmers areorganized under prototype cooperatives.Wheat cultivation on a plantation scaleis being considered in o<strong>the</strong>r areas.Social ConsiderationsFacilitating acceptanceof <strong>the</strong> new cropA sustained information campaign isbeing carried out. along with fielddemonstrations, seminars and <strong>the</strong>training of farmer cooperators in <strong>the</strong>wheat program.Promoting direct usesof wheat in <strong>the</strong> homeThe conventional pathway of wheat isto <strong>the</strong> flour mill and <strong>the</strong>n to <strong>the</strong> bakerybefore <strong>the</strong> end product reaches <strong>the</strong>consumer. Local groWing of wheat islikely to revolutionize this system. butit will take time. The preparation ofwheat products in <strong>the</strong> home is inagreement with <strong>the</strong> government'snutrition program.