PAKISTAN is in the midst of economic crisis and there are reasons to believe that the challenge can effectively be addressed by diverting more attention towards somewhat neglected and abandoned agriculture sector. In this backdrop, it was a welcome development to observe December 18 as Kissan Day and launching of the campaign Salam Kissan by a leading fertilizer manufacturer, Sarsabz by Fatima Fertilizers, to recognize the hard-work and dedication of farming community.
That the day helped focused attention on the problems being faced by farmers was also evident from the message that Prime Minister Imran Khan released through a tweet, reiterating commitment of the Government to facilitate small farmers in increasing their yields, getting fair prices for their crops and improving market access, the issues that are today agitating minds of the farmers around the country. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also said that farmers were being given full price of their agriculture products during PTI government tenure. The resolve of the Government to improve the lot of the farmers and resolve their problems is also vindicated by the recent decision of the Government to increase support price for wheat and sugarcane after many years. As also pointed out by Leader of the Opposition Mian Shahbaz Sharif the increase in the cost of inputs including fertilizers was hampering growth of the agriculture sector and exploitation of its full potential for national development. One can imagine the real problem by the fact that cotton is Pakistan’s 2nd largest crop planted on 6.66 million acres but despite being the 4th largest cotton producer in the world, the country was still importing raw cotton worth $ 1.2 billion. Similarly, we are unable to meet our requirements of pulses while there is no meaningful progress on increasing indigenous production of oilseed to lower dependence on excessive import of edible oil. Besides modernization of the agriculture sector, foolproof system should be evolved to ensure that produce of the farmers is lifted at all costs and they get the guaranteed price. It may also be pointed out that a vast majority of the rural populace is still living in mud and straw huts, lacking infrastructure, such as paved roads, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and access to decent educational and health facilities and a well-knit plan should be implemented to transform landscape of the rural Pakistan.
