Pakistan’s agricultural sector is in dire straits

By Zil-e-Huma

Agriculture is considered the lifeblood of Pakistan’s economy as it contributes about 19.2% to GDP, provides livelihood for 64% of rural dwellers and employs the rest of the workforce. total national work.

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Being an agricultural country, the economy has an inseparable link with agriculture.

GDP in Pakistan has a high contribution while an extremely small number of monetary assets, between 0.11 and 0.63% of agricultural GDP over the past 20 years, has been spent on research and development. Research shows that the yield gap between average and progressive farmers is about 40%, which is even higher between research stations and agricultural communication.

An unequal diet is self-sufficient in wheat, rice and sugar, while irregular harvesting methodologies have deterred farmers from switching from low-value crops to high-value crops. Work on agricultural creation is mainly determined by the increase in inputs and the development of the region, but the overall efficiency of the factors is quite important. Research shows that the careless use of synthetic pesticides and compost has had an adverse impact on regular assets such as soil water, air, food quality and well-being.

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Large expense of creation, low normal output and shoddy production mutually give room for imported items to conquer our local markets. There are many issues that drive Pakistan out of competition in global business sectors.

Furthermore, water – being a basic input to agribusiness – is becoming scarce, although the mastery of water use in Pakistan for yield creation is quite low.

Evidence suggests that rich fields have no growth, but the demand for food is constantly increasing due to expanding population and per capita wages.

The increasing openness of natural markets poses a serious risk to future food security and poverty reduction strategies.

The other damaging factor for the agricultural sector is that the relevant local authorities do not pay much attention to issues and difficulties related to agricultural areas. The food security of citizens seems to be at stake in the coming days.

Such an attitude by the authorities concerned causes serious damage because it leads to an import/export imbalance in addition to the balance of deadlines. The lack of boundaries in the creation and adoption of developments in every major value chain also leads to the demand-driven wing of the horticulture field.

Except for the advancement in various centers of important value chains and the vital foundations created through open enterprise, the current situation is unlikely to change. There is widespread interest in shifting the horticulture culture of sponsorship to demand-driven and critical-thinking research hatcheries to transform agriculture from resources to commercialization and foster a provincial framework to interface rustic economies with urban areas. .

Expanding the guidance network of countries through competent culture-based planning associations could help spread the openness of data, thereby enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the provincial masses. This approach will not simply lessen reliance on the old augmentation system. Imported upgrades further add development choice by also supporting culture value chains. Data-driven improvements and interventions will bring about heightened reality, ensure future food security and reduce inequalities between imports and trade.

Policy makers just make big statements and announce their support for farmers, but virtually nothing is done. At the moment, and especially when Covid-19 hit the world and badly damaged the poor economy, it was the agricultural sector that saved people. Laborers who cannot find work are seen engaging in agricultural fields and earning money for themselves and their families. Water scarcity is a real problem for farmers. The irrigation system set up by the invaders many years ago in the region is still effective if the competent authorities monitor it and ensure transparency in the water supply to the fields.

Farmers were seen complaining about the drainage system in addition to protesting soaring pesticide prices. They work hard to feed the nation, but in return what they get is not what they deserve.

Farmland is now saved, which is another big problem. Housing corporations are gobbling up fertile land with every passing day. The absence of effective policy and law enforcement has caused serious damage to the lifeblood of the country’s economy.

The writer is a student at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST)

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