ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to formulate a comprehensive national agricultural policy as soon as possible, initiating a new phase of reforms to make Pakistan’s agricultural sector compatible with modern requirements and make it a strong pillar of the country’s economic development. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued clear instructions to the relevant institutions to give a new direction to agriculture through modern technology, effective policy-making and a strong research system so that the country can achieve sustainable food security and economic stability.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on the agricultural sector at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the continuous increase in Pakistan’s population, the effects of climate change and the challenges faced in agricultural production require the introduction of a national policy that is designed keeping in mind the needs of the coming years.
The Prime Minister, while directing the reorganisation of the Ministry of National Food Security, Research and Agricultural Reforms, said that the ministry should be made functional according to the modern governance style so that decisions can be implemented in a timely manner and farmers can benefit directly. According to him, it is not enough to simply formulate new policies, but their effective implementation is equally important.
During the meeting, the prime minister approved the establishment of a permanent Apex Forum to monitor the agriculture sector, which will meet every month. This forum will continuously review agricultural development projects, research, implementation of modern technology and government measures to increase crop production.
He said that the role of agriculture is of fundamental importance in strengthening Pakistan’s economy. If per-acre production is increased, modern seeds are introduced, irrigation systems are improved and quality fertilisers are provided to farmers in a timely manner, not only will agricultural production increase, but exports will also increase significantly.
The Prime Minister, calling value addition of agricultural commodities, food processing, modern warehouses and cold storage systems an integral part of the future agricultural strategy, said that the full potential of the agricultural economy cannot be achieved without reducing post-harvest losses.
The officials present at the meeting informed the Prime Minister that a pilot project on the production of nutritious multigrain flour is underway at the National Agricultural Research Center, while an artificial intelligence-based mobile app is also being developed that will help farmers in timely diagnosis and treatment of crop diseases and harmful insects.
The briefing was informed that the government is also working on improving access to easy agricultural loans through the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited to reduce the financial difficulties of farmers. The Prime Minister directed the full publicising of the Fertile Agricultural Loan Program in this regard and said that providing access to modern agricultural facilities to small farmers is the priority of the government.
The meeting was further informed that the National Seed Policy and the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy have been approved, while the Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy is in the final stages and will be presented to the federal cabinet soon. In addition, work is also underway on several reform proposals related to the National Wheat Policy and Livestock.
Experts say that if these reforms are implemented effectively, not only will Pakistan’s food needs be better met, but agricultural exports, rural employment and the overall national economy will also benefit in the long term. The government’s new strategy is being hailed as a major step forward for sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
