Agricultural Sector of Pakistan

            Pakistan is a country whose economy is majorly supported by Agricultural sector. Howsoever, this sector is badly damaged due to governmental negligence and some other factors like corruption and lack of funds. 

Water and Energy Crises:

            The decline of Agricultural sector is primarily because of water and energy crises. Due to unstable water supply most of the crops are affected. Unfortunate Pakistan doesn’t have a big number of Dams so it doesn’t have enough capacity to store rain water, hence farmers often face water crises.

            In addition to this, energy crises also played a vital role in destruction of Agricultural Sector. No electricity supply and/or power-cut (load shedding) compel farmers to opt private production plants e.g. Generators. Such plants cost them more and eventually causes profit reduction. So the shortage of water and energy makes it harder to produce more to uphold the agriculture sector.

Lack of Infrastructure:

            Infrastructure is another stumbling stone in the development of agriculture sector. Pakistan doesn’t have proper infrastructure for transportation of production/goods from farms to markets located in cities for trade. Though the government of Pakistan is efficiently developing roads and bridges for better transpiration, but such infrastructural development is limited to within major cities only e.g. Lahore, Islamabad & Karachi etc, but the farms/fields are located way too far from the cities in rural area where no such transportation facilities are available.

Agricultural Research:

            There are no efficient agricultural research centers in Pakistan. Western countries have developed cheaper, efficient and advanced methods of agricultural production. However, Government of Pakistan is taking least interest in this sector and no funds are allocated for research of better seeds, fertilizers and other inputs to make the production efficient and effective for the poor farmer.

  

Loans: 

         

            Farmers of Pakistan are mostly poor and can’t afford costly inputs for agricultural production. So they acquire loans from commercial banks which are backed by security/assets e.g. Land, tractors etc. Here the poor farmer has to pay back principle amount along with interest payment out of nominal profit he makes from production which is really discouraging. And in case he fails to pay back the payment, he loses his pledged assets.             

Recommendations:

            In order to make agricultural sector efficient to government must take following steps:

·        Provide efficient energy and water supply.

·        Build infrastructure in rural areas for transportation of production to markets.

·        Establish Agricultural Research Centers equipped with advanced technology.

·        Provide subsidized agricultural inputs so that poor farmer could enjoy large scale production with noticeable profits.

·        Provide agricultural-loans at relaxed terms & conditions with lower interest rates.

·        Prices should be fixed/stable.

·        Brick Lining of Canals.