Neglecting agriculture sector

The government is planning to import around 2.6 million tonnes wheat, 300,000 tonnes sugar and may even need to buy more cotton than last year’s 3.2 million bales. Wheat and cotton production fell short of the government’s target as farmers faced adverse weather and pest attacks.

The year again, the cotton crop has been affected as many parts of the country recorded the heaviest rainfall in nearly a century leading to devastating floods. The country will have to import cotton to support the textile sector, the biggest employer and foreign exchange earner, and control the prices of essential food items.

Pakistan has vast fertile lands and agriculture has been a source of income for nearly half of the workforce. The problem started in recent years when leaders started focusing on industrialization and the vital sector was neglected. The decline in agriculture sector started when farmers were attracted by urban life and better prospects and migrated from villages. The power of rich feudal lords started increasing and they have an absolute grip on the sector.

The powerful landlords have influenced the government and are responsible for artificial shortage and price hikes in agricultural products.

They smuggled wheat to Afghanistan and exported sugar without considering the domestic market. Like successive government, the PTI government also focused on industrialization and was unable to take action against the mafia plundering the nation.

Ignoring the agriculture sector and focusing on industrialization has increased pressure on the economy. We are unable to strengthen our economy due to higher prices of electricity, gas and interest rates and have been losing crucial agriculture. The government must develop the agriculture sector and increase its revenue. Efforts should be made to reduce the prices of essential food items to ensure consumption for local markets and only the surplus should be exported.

We should earn revenue on exports of agriculture products and then only should we should focus on industrialization. We need to develop the power sector and avoid painful international bank loans from global lenders who have indebted the nation.