ICCI seeks microcredit schemes for farmers

Also advises adopting modern agricultural techniques to raise crop yield

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to launch microcredit schemes for small farmers.

This will enable them to adopt modern agricultural techniques that would help them boost per acre yield of crops, chamber officials said on Saturday. “Pakistan is an agricultural country, however, its inability to introduce the latest agricultural machinery and technology, means that per acre yield of its crops is far less in comparison to other countries.”  Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that agriculture was contributing 21% to the country’s GDP and providing employment to around 45% of the workforce.

“However, Pakistan has yet to achieve the required targets of self-reliance in agricultural production due to the non-adoption of modern techniques.” He emphasised on the need to train, support and encourage farmers to utilise modern-day tools in agriculture to achieve food security and self-sufficiency. Moughal said that the diffusion of modern agro-technology has considerably increased the growth of all crops in many countries.

He urged the government to adopt this approach in order to increase production and incomes of farmers. He said that the majority of the peasants were reluctant to adopt modern technologies due to factors such as the high rates of agriculture appliances and the unavailability of quality seeds.

“The government should provide fertilisers and pesticides at affordable rates to address these issues on a priority basis.” Farmers are mostly using tractors for cultivation and losing around 40% of their yield in post-harvest losses, due to the non-adoption of modern agricultural technologies, ICCI President informed.

He also asked the government to educate farmers on the use of combine harvesters and other modern techniques, which would not only save time but also increase per acre yield as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2019.

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