Considering the agriculture sector’s paramount importance, already identified as a priority by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has intensified its efforts to execute agriculture-related projects.
In the current fiscal year, several projects worth billions of rupeeswere allocated for the agriculture sector under the Public SectorDevelopment Program (PSDP 2023-24) to tap huge potential in theagriculture sector, according to the Planning Ministry.
Pakistan has vast potential for foreign investment in the field ofagriculture as the country is a semi-industrialized economy with awell-integrated agricultural sector that contributes 22.9% to GrossDomestic Product (GDP) and creates 37.4% of jobs, ensures food securityand provides raw materials for industries.
While gearing up the efforts, the Planning Ministry asked the ministries concerned to accelerate the implementation so that the projects could be completed timely, especially at a time when the SIFC took the lead and agriculture was the top priority besides the other key sectors.
The SIFC was established earlier this year to attract foreign and local investments while targeting five key areas which include Agriculture, Defence Production, Mining/Minerals, Information Technology and Telecommunication and Energy.
The projects include Cage Culture Cluster Development Project, Commercialization of Potato Tissue Culture Technology in Pakistan, Establishment of consumer-sourcing seed authenticity system and Strengthening of Labs of FSC&RD; Establishment of Plant Breeders Rights Registry and Strengthening of DUS Examination System; Establishment of Seed Certification Services in Southern Balochistan; National Oilseed Enhancement Program; National Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Eradication Programme: Phase 1 – Risk Based PPR Control In Sheep and Goats of Pakistan; National Program for Enhancing the Command Area in Barani Areas of Pakistan; National Program for Improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan – Phase II; Pilot Shrimp farming Cluster Development; Productivity Enhancement of Rice; Productivity Enhancement of Sugarcane; Productivity Enhancement of Wheat, Promoting Research for Productivity Enhancement in Pulses, Promotion of Olive cultivation on commercial scale in Pakistan – Phase II; Promotion of Trout Farming in Northern Areas of Pakistan; Sino-Pak Agricultural Breeding innovations Project for Rapid Yield Enhancement; Water Conservation in Barani Areas of KP; Locust Emergency and Food Security Project; Mainstreaming of MARC for the promotion of high value agriculture in Gilgit-Baltistan; Pakistan- Korea Joint Program on Certified Seed Potato Production System and Professional Capacity Building in Agriculture TVET National reforms programe.
Prime Minister’s Initiatives for Green Revolution 2.0 worth Rs 5000 million is a landmark project initiated to address the key constraints to the productivity of agriculture.
The government emphasized on promotion of technology to reduce post-harvest losses, value addition for grain, fruits and vegetables, productivity enhancement of major crops, engagement of women and youth in agriprenure, agri-business and to promote and support agricultural research.
It is noted that the Green Revolution played a key role in the country’s economy back in the 1960s while saving millions of people from famine.
