ISLAMABAD: A Rs82 billion plan for the agriculture sector has been announced for the agriculture sector by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) with a target of boosting crop yield, improved water efficiency, livestock and fisheries development.
Also, the purpose of the package is to enable the genesis of agro-markets with an overall aim of elevating small farmers and decreasing rural poverty, reports Dawn.
The reframing, founded on the suggestions put forth to Prime Minister Imran Khan by MNFSR Task Force, purses the ‘100 Days Agenda’ and constitutes a share of the Rs200 billion package for the agriculture sector by the provincial and federal governments.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehbub Sultan during a press conference on Wednesday guided about the detailed plan which will be executed between two to three years.
While sharing the targets, Mr Sultan stated all goals were attainable and every effort will be made by MNFSR in this respect.
Talking about crop yield, Mr Sultan shared an investment of Rs4 billion will be done via promoting mechanisation.
And 50% subsidy is going to be provided to small farmers on the procurement of crops specific machinery; growth of high-yielding varieties and improved supply of certified seeds.
To establish new facilities and modernize existing modern research institute, international experts will be employed.
Extension services at every level, plant production, marketing and crop processing, plant protection methods will be restructured to improve production with lesser input.
Mr Sultan instructed the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) to create superior seeds for the farmers and for this Rs4 billion have been approved by the prime minister.
Moreover, for the expansion of the fisheries sector, the plan foresees encouraging cage fish culture, shrimp farming and trout farming in northern areas.
The cost of this project is estimated to be Rs8.6 billion and will be broadened to coastal areas, said Mr Sultan.
The minister said a cage farming project is operational at the Head Panjnad.
Under the Rs68.6 billion National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan Phase-II, water efficiency will be bolstered.
It focuses on watercourse lining, boosting command area of small and mini dams in barani areas and preserving water in barani areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Consequently, 9-million-acre-feet (MAF) of water will get conserved and be available for irrigation.
Moreover, the MNFSR stated 47MAF of water got lost in watercourses, distributaries and canals.
The ministry says about 47MAF of water is lost in conveyance in canals, distributaries and watercourses.
The Agriculture, Livestock & Dairy Development institution’s/organisation performance in Pakistan is very poor in KPK, Sindh and Balouchistan regarding research and providing facilities, knowledge, and communication with the farmers in the field.
All of the institutions relying on the theories and providing zero practical knowledge about the modern farming, livestock and dairy development which give output $ billions to economies like china, india, united states, and australia.
Most of the research center shows an image of a tsunami that took everything or destroyed.
The government is spending pkr billions and the institutions performance is nil from the past till to date.
Is there any audit been done for the previous budgets of such ghost institutions?
Regards
I fully endorse the perception of Mr Zia Ullah that instead of feeding such institutions in billions with very marginal benefit to the economy and instead all such activities be promoted from grass root level through subsidizing inputs to farmers and granting loans with minor interest rate through ADBP, NBP etc because hard working farmers, industry and trade workers are the real builders of pillars of the economy of Pakistan. Unfortunately, very step motherly treatment is done with this class of society.
If we are really interested in agr development, we will need to focus on the needs of small farmers, who constitute 85 % the community. They need interest free loans to take local initiatives for earnings.
It is very important for the uplift of agriculture to increase loan free par accep .water lining and technology. Marketing is an other factor for improvement.
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