Farm productivity stagnant for 10 years

Lack of value chain, traditional methods termed main hurdles.

FAISALABAD: Agricultural productivity of the country has remained stagnant for the past 10 years, which has put a question mark over food security with a growing population.

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad said this while talking to a US delegation comprising David Orden, Senior Research Fellow of Pakistan Strategy Support Programme and Dr Kingsley Bash, Chief of Party for the programme here on Wednesday.

Ahmad said lack of a value chain, ineffective marketing and traditional ways of farming were the main hurdles in the way of boosting farm productivity.

In 1972, according to Ahmad, agricultural land was 0.29 hectare per capita, which came down to 0.24 hectare in 1981 and would drop to 0.11 hectare in 2020.

Stressing the need for precision agriculture, he said the quantity of fertiliser required for a big tree was also being applied to a small tree, though a small tree demanded much less quantity, leading to wastage.

Dr Kingsley Bash said the goal of Pakistan Strategy Support Programme, in first phase, was to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and enhanced food security. Main areas of research for the organisation are water management and irrigation, markets, trade, poverty reduction and social safety nets.

Dr David Orden said the programme, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sought to create a more favourable and enabling environment for investment and enterprise growth, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2012.