Agriculture package: Government working to empower farmers, CM says

Shahbaz Sharif reviews the package via video link, approves final plan

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reviewed and finalised an Agriculture Package on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting via video link on Thursday, the chief minister said a Rs100 billion package had been approved for development of agriculture sector and prosperity of cultivators for the next two years.

He said the Agriculture Package was aimed at farmers’ welfare and improving productivity.

He said that prosperity of small farmers was a top priority of the government. “Pakistan will prosper only when farmers prosper,” he said.

“Agriculture is the backbone of economy. The government has taken a number of steps for the welfare and prosperity of the farmers and development of the agriculture sector during the last seven and a half years,” he said.

The chief minister said an agriculture commission was being set up to monitor problems in the agriculture sector. “The government will be spending hundreds of billions of rupees on promotion of agriculture. This will definitely raise living standards of farmers. Their quality of life will improve visibly over the next two years,” he said.

He said the departments concerned would have to work closely and maintain coordination to achieving the goals set under the package. The chief minister said that agriculture and research development were integral. “Appropriate attention has not been paid to agriculture research in universities and agriculture research institutions. An increase in per acre yield is not possible without adopting modern technology. The government, agriculture research institutions and universities will have to work together to deal with these challenges,” he said.

He said the research wing of the Agriculture Department would be activated and steps were being taken to curb sale of spurious pesticides.

“In addition, work is continuing on the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads under a Rs150 billion project. Work is also continuing on the project for providing potable water in rural areas,” he said.

He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government would continue to take steps for farmers’ welfare.

“We must empower cultivators. Pakistan is an agrarian country, its land is fertile and its farmers are hard working,” he said.

He said steps should be taken to reduce cost of production and increase cultivable area. “Farmers’ welfare is the responsibility of the government. The agrarian economy must be strengthened by enabling small farmers to stand on their own feet.”

Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Farrukh Javed, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and Mian Yawar Zaman, Special Assistant on Livestock Arshad Jutt, the chief secretary, the Planning and Development Board chairman participated in the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2016.