R&D and horticulture
Pakistan is an agriculture-based society, yet the country is faced with rising food insecurity. A lack of investment and overall negligence of research and development (R&D) in the horticulture sector has amplified the country’s food crisis. Horticulture is a sub-sector of agriculture and significantly impacts human nutrition. The sector has immense potential to create employment, bring forex and boost the overall economy, but gaps in expertise have hampered these prospects.
By 2025, Pakistan may witness a 50% decline in agriculture production if global temperatures rise by 3%. The country is already lagging in the production of fruits; crop yields and quality of the produce are also substandard. Individuals involved in agriculture activities and services have pressed on the need to replace outdated farming and horticulture practices with modern methods and technologies. The country needs to adapt to climate change management methods and employ water-efficient techniques such as drip irrigation along with the use of insect-resistant planting methods.
Considering that many countries have revived their horticulture sector with few investments and joint efforts by the government and private sector, Pakistan can undertake similar initiatives to bolster research and development to improve crop yields and reduce vulnerability to pests and disease. New technologies can potentially improve the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables for domestic consumers. In addition, finding new varieties of seeds that are disease-free can enhance nutritional intake and reduce the incidence of malnourishment and disease in the country. The impending climate crisis coupled with a burgeoning population will raise the risks of food insecurity and eventual scarcity.
To avert these risks, the government should equip the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board with the resources to comply with international standards and enhance capacity and management to meet domestic demand and improve export potential.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2023.
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