Pakistan needs to digitalise agri sector

Food minister says productivity will increase with better policies

ISLAMABAD:

During these difficult times in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic and locust invasion, the government is trying to support particularly those people that are living below the poverty line. With efforts of the government, policies have been transformed.

These remarks were made by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam at the 35th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia-Pacific.

He stated that the country needed to upgrade and digitalise the agro-technology and adopt best practices as being followed in advanced economies.

"Increase in agricultural productivity can happen when policies are framed, which will benefit the farming community. We want to bring a better balance between different sectors of the economy, which include manufacturing, agriculture and services," said Imam.

Speaking on the occasion, FAO Country Representative in Pakistan Mina Dowlatchahi said, "The government of Pakistan has actively contributed by sharing perspectives of its development strategy. Pakistan is targeting the population below the national poverty line and smallholder farmers' agriculture transformation by agro-ecological zones, in an effort to contain the combined impact of Covid-19 on food systems, climate hazards and the recent desert locust national emergency in a slowing down economy."

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted that small and vulnerable farmers must be at the centre of the response.

"Smallholder farmers and their families, food workers in all sectors, and those living in commodity and tourism-dependent economies are particularly vulnerable. They urgently need our attention," Qu urged. Other speakers on the occasion noted the importance of acting on two fronts simultaneously - revising public policies and implementing practical measures in the field.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2020.

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