PM directs steps to uplift agriculture sector

Orders start of consultative process to increase production

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to boost the country’s agriculture production, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed the Ministry National Food Security and Research to start a consultative process involving various provincial governments and other stakeholders for expanding agriculture production base.

A notice issued by the Prime Minister Secretariat here said that the ministry concerned shall ensure that the consultative process is finalised in due course for approval and appropriate allocation of funds in the budget for 2016-17.

The notification further said that various issues have been keeping the agriculture sector under pressure and the plan will help develop an integrated framework for agriculture, with a view to achieve positive outcomes.

The document underlined these aspects including diversification in the agriculture sector by promoting new crops and modern techniques. Secondly, revitalising agriculture research institutions and re-establishing a national agriculture research system by synergizing federal and provincial research institutions.

Additionally, the programme will also focus on the reorientation of agriculture research for development of better crop varieties in terms of yield and pest resistance.

The new system of research funding in the agriculture sector will focus on research output rather than investing in unnecessary employment. Likewise, the system will also look into measures for mitigating the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector and a long-term ground water policy aimed at ensuring available as well as efficient utilisation of this scarce resource.

Finally, the prime minister has also asked for consultation with stakeholders on a comprehensive framework for seed certification, fertiliser availability at affordable cost and regulation of pesticide business.

An official in the food ministry said that Minister Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan had earlier requested the prime minister to increase budgetary allocation so that it can take certain steps for the long term development of the agriculture sector.

The minister contended that since the devolution of the agriculture subject to the provinces, the federal budget had drastically reduced from multi-billion to just millions and provinces have shown their neglect towards this sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.

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