
KARACHI:
Agriculture is one of the largest sectors of our economy and contributes nearly 24% to the gross domestic product. A large proportion of the population directly or indirectly depends on the sector, which is why the sector has great potential to boost economic progress and widen the scope for employment.
The recent floods caused by erratic weather patterns in Sindh and Balochistan have caused a devastating blow to Pakistan’s agriculture sector. The frequent floods and droughts have exacerbated several problems in the region. Among them, massive crop losses, increasing rural poverty and food insecurity are the main consequences that need to be addressed.
Needless to say, the actions taken by the incumbent government are applaudable. But the structural flaws plaguing Pakistan’s agricultural sector for decades need to be included in current plans and policies. The so-called kissan package seeks to disburse interest-free and subsidised loans among farmers. It provides free seeds in flood-hit areas and forgives interest on bank loans received by farmers. The package will improve the liquidity of farmers and help them cope with these issues of cash flow. But without addressing the outdated farming practices and low machination process, it is impossible to revamp and revive the agriculture sector. Therefore, policymakers must revise their plans and policies to revive the agriculture sector. Farmers should be included in the decision-making process. Also, modern agriculture techniques such as indoor vertical farming to reduce water usage and livestock farming technology to improve the management of livestock should be adopted.
Hasnain Pirzada
Sukkur
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2022.
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