Issues In Agriculture Sector Of Pakistan And Their Solutions
Description
Agriculture sector is the backbone of our economy. It has a part of over 21 percent in the GDP and approximately 45 percent of the total labour force is engaged with this sector.
Furthermore it is the primary supplier of raw materials to the industries, that contributes to Pakistan's export, but this excelsior sector is facing several problems due to various factors;
1-Social Factor;- Limited Cultivable Area
It's one the main problem in agriculture sector of Pakistan that very few lands are being used for agricultural purpose. Out of 79.6 million hectares the total area of Pakistan, only 23.7 million hectares (28%) area is used for agricultural purpose.
- Water Logging And Salinity
Water logging and salinity effects about 0.10 million acre of land every year. The production level decreases due to this wastage of land.
2-Economic Factors;
- Inadequate Infrastructure
The rural infrastructure like roads, health facilities, electricity, transport, education, sanitation and storage facilities etc is not proper or inadequate to meet the requirements of agricultural growth.
- Uneconomic Land Holdings
A very large number of farmers have less than 2 hectares of area just because of increasing population and division of land under the law of inheritance. So it's really difficult to run modern or heavy machinery on such small pieces of lands.
3-Technological Factors;
- Lack Of Modern Agriculture Technology
In most areas of Pakistan the old implements are still being used for agricultural production. Due to this the production level cannot increase according to the international levels.
- Unfamiliar With The Modern Techniques
In rural areas of Pakistan farmers are unfamiliar with the fast or modern agricultural growth techniques. They are still using their old and timing consuming ways to grow crops.
- Inadequate Supply Of Agricultural Inputs
Supply of modern inputs like high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, pesticides, mechanized machinery and chemical fertilizers etc are in a very slow rate. There are only 10 number of fertilizer production units in Pakistan.
4-Vicious Cycle Of Poverty;
- Subsistence Farming
A huge portion of production is consumed at farmer's own house to support large family due to low income. So farmers cannot save enough or less portion of production is available for market supply.
- Poor Population Is Attached With Agriculture
Mostly poor population is attached with agriculture sector in Pakistan. They cannot afford high or heavy machinery for the agricultural process due to low income. This causes the low production.
5-Political Factors;
Instability
The political situations in Pakistan are not stable. It creates unrest among the farmers to sell the production to various a industries as a raw material. People hesitate to invest in agricultural sector due to political unrest.
- Change Of Policies
Political instability leads to change the policies of agriculture sector. If there is instability in politics then definitely the policies will be changed with time. So it is difficult for the farmers to follow different policies.
- Instability In Market Prices
The price in market of agricultural goods does not remain stable. Farmers does not get due reward from the sale of their production and remain unsatisfied.
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Solutions To Overcome The Issues
1-Supply Of Agriculture Credit
The agriculture credit should be supplied at the easy terms and conditions to poor farmers, because they cannot afford the expensive technology.
2-Installation And Repairing Of Tube Wells And Canals
As water logging and salinity destroys a large area of land every year, so the tube wells should be installed and repairing of canal bank and drainage of water must be done.
3-Provision of high yield variety seeds.
4-Should Be Affective Agricultural Research
It's compulsory to remove the backwardness of agriculture sector. Government should increase the research work in the field of agriculture.
5-Government should support agriculture colleges and universities.
6-There Should Be A Proper Training Of Farmers
Our farmers are uneducated or illiterate, so they have less experience. Government should start special programs for farmers.
7-Government should set reasonable prices of agricultural production to develop the living standard of farmers.
8-Government should provide irrigation facilities like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, water, seeds and mechanized machinery etc to the farmers in a better way.
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