Calling all stakeholders: Trying to make Seed Act more farmer-friendly, says Tarakai

Farmers must be taken on board for agricultural policy.

PESHAWAR: Suggestions from small-scale farmers should be included in the agricultural policy draft, Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai said on Tuesday.

Addressing a workshop organised by the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad and Action Aid Pakistan, the agriculture minister said the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Seeds Act 2014, which came under much criticism by farmers, has been returned to the relevant committee to make it more farmer-friendly.

“Agricultural policy cannot be finalised until opinions of all stakeholders are taken,” said Action Aid Pakistan Programme Officer Pervaiz Iqbal Ansari. The minister said after discussing the draft with farmers and consulting agricultural experts, certain recommendations have been made for the policy.

Tarakai asked for grants for women farmers so they are encouraged to take up small businesses such as kitchen gardening and managing livestock. Tarakai added training programmes must be initiated and farm service centres should be managed and run by representatives from the farming industry. He further said land should be distributed among farmers, budget for agricultural development increased and organic farming promoted. He also highlighted the importance of experimenting with new seeds.

Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary Usman Yaqoob said the government will take all suggestions into consideration while working on the policy draft. He added the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad Provincial Coordinator Liaqat Yousafzai’s name has been suggested for the working group tasked to formulate the agricultural policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2014.