Building resilience in Agriculture Of Pakistan
Pakistan, one of the ten most climate-vulnerable countries, faces severe socio-economic risks. This report shows how the agricultural sector can thrive by investing in innovative, climate focused agribusinesses. Agriculture Of Pakistan sector contributes 24% to GDP and employs half the workforce. Ranked in the top 10 most vulnerable countries, it faces rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and devastating extreme weather events which disrupt agricultural production, increase food insecurity, and exacerbate poverty.
Future-proofing for smallholder farmers to build Agriculture Of Pakistan
High-potential and innovative agribusinesses are emerging, offering locally relevant solutions to build resilience, and addressing key challenges across the value chain.
Improved input efficiency, information access, and financial services targeting small farmers who are on the frontlines of climate change.
ne of the major obstacles hindering innovative Agribusiness growth is the limited access to patient equity financing. This report focuses on three key areas where targeted interventions can unlock significant progress. These recommendations focus on overcoming barriers related to access to financing, expertise, and regulatory support.
By providing these enterprises with the necessary capital and support, we can unlock their potential to drive innovation, implement climate-smart practices, and create a ripple effect throughout the value chain. This approach not only strengthens the resilience of farmers and communities, but also fosters a thriving private sector that can attract further investment, create jobs, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Problems Of Agriculture In Pakistan
Pakistan’s agriculture sector plays a central role in the economy as it contributes 22.9 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) and absorbs 37.4 percent of the labor force. Pakistan’s food import bill grew by 53.98 percent to $7.550 billion during the fiscal year 2023. The government had to import sugar, wheat, palm oil, and pulses to bridge the shortfall in domestic production. These agricultural items can be produced in Pakistan but are not enough to fulfill domestic demand. Pakistan is facing a huge current account deficit, hence, cannot afford to increase this deficit further.
Therefore, it needs to find an effective solution to boost its domestic agriculture production
by resolving the problems faced by farmers in Pakistan, saving precious foreign reserves,
and providing food security. These obstacles are the main cause of Agricultural Problems
in Pakistan.
However, the problems that hinder the plan of increasing agricultural practices are the
following.
- Problems Faced by Farmers and Their Solutions
- Lack of irrigation facilities
- Lack of post-harvest infrastructure
- Unavailability of electricity
- Exhaustion of soil
- Current Agricultural Issues
- Farmers Problems
- Solutions to Agricultural Problems
- Scarcity of Capital
- Sustainable Agriculture Problems and its Impact on Agriculture
- Climate Change and Its Impact on Agriculture
- Sustainable Agriculture Practices
- Importance of a Farmer
Lack of Irrigation Facilities
Cultivable land that is irrigable in Pakistan is only 28 percent, compared to 80 percent in
India. This is because of the lack of an efficient water management system and poor
infrastructure. Million tons of water are dumped into the Arabian Sea without utilizing it.
Lack of post-harvest infrastructure
The farmers are unable to store agricultural goods for a long time without them going to
waste due to a lack of cold storage and storage facilities. They are compelled to sell them at
a lower than the actual market price. Which forces the government to import more
agricultural goods in the off-season.
Unavailability of electricity
Due to the extremely hot weather in Pakistan, the crops need a high amount of irrigation to
grow, but due to the lack of irrigation infrastructure, the farmers must use tube wells to water
their crops. However, electricity is not available to them 24/7 and fuel is costly.
Exhaustion of Soil
Pakistan’s soils have been used for growing crops for thousands of years without caring
much for replenishing. This has led to depletion and exhaustion of soils resulting in their low
productivity. The average yield of almost all the crops is one of the lowest in the world. It has
been estimated that about 70 percent of the growth in agricultural production can be
attributed to increased fertilizer application. Which most of the farmers cannot afford.
Current Agricultural Issues
Today, the agricultural sector in Pakistan faces numerous issues, including outdated farming
techniques, lack of access to modern farming technology, and insufficient government
subsidies for farmers. These issues hinder the sector’s ability to reach its full potential and
contribute to the country’s economic growth. Addressing these challenges requires a
concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and farming
community.
Farmers’ Problems
The Problems faced by farmers are not just about production; they also involve market
access, price fluctuations, and lack of information. Improving rural infrastructure, establishing
farmer cooperatives, and providing market intelligence can help address the issues in
agriculture today. By giving farmers better access to markets and information, they can
make more informed decisions and improve their income
Solutions to Agricultural Problems
While the problems faced by farmers in Pakistan are significant, some solutions can be
implemented to improve the situation. These include investing in research and development
to improve crop varieties, enhancing extension services to disseminate knowledge on best
farming practices, and creating a supportive policy environment that encourages investment
in agriculture.
Scarcity of Capital
The role of capital input is becoming more and more important with the advancement of farm
technology. The farmers in Pakistan do not possess advanced capital to increase their crop
produce effectively, they are still using the traditional methods of farming.
The following are some ways in which the State of Pakistan can help solve some of the
issues faced by farmers to enable our agricultural sector to reach its full potential.
? Invest more in the projects of irrigation such as the Kachhi and Jalalpur canals to
increase the cultivation land in Pakistan.
? Provides storage facilities to the farmers near their fields. Rural Storage Centre serves
the economic interests of the farming community.
? The supply of electricity to farmers must be ensured by the government.
? The farmers should be given subsidies on fertilizers to promote their use.
? The government should educate and provide loans on easy terms to the farmers, to
purchase agricultural machinery.
Sustainable Agriculture Problems and its Impact on
Agriculture
To address the challenges in agriculture, it is crucial to adopt sustainable farming
practices that can improve productivity while preserving the environment. This includes
investing in better irrigation systems, developing post-harvest infrastructure, ensuring a
reliable electricity supply, promoting sustainable soil management, and providing farmers
with the necessary capital and technology.
The government has a pivotal role to play in facilitating these changes. By investing in
irrigation projects, providing storage facilities, ensuring electricity supply, subsidizing
fertilizers, and offering financial assistance for agricultural machinery, the government can
help farmers overcome the hurdles they face.
Moreover, education and awareness about sustainable agriculture methods are essential.
Farmers need to be informed about the latest technologies and methods that can help them
increase their yields while conserving resources. This will not only benefit the farmers
directly but also contribute to the overall sustainability of agriculture in Pakistan.
Climate Change and Agriculture
The challenges faced by farmers in Pakistan that result in climate change, affect
agriculture. The changing climate patterns have led to more frequent and severe weather
events, such as droughts, floods, and heat waves, which directly impact agricultural
productivity. These extreme weather conditions can destroy crops, damage infrastructure,
and deplete water resources, making it even more difficult for farmers to sustain their
livelihoods. The precautionary measure could be adopted with the Climate Smart Agriculture practices.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
To mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, it is imperative to adopt
sustainable agriculture technology. This includes the use of drought-resistant crop
varieties, water-efficient irrigation systems, and conservation agriculture techniques that
reduce soil erosion and enhance water retention. Such practices not only help in adapting to
the changing climate but also contribute to the resilience of the agricultural system.
Importance of a Farmer
It is important to recognize the critical role that farmers play in our society. They are not just
producers of food but also stewards of the land and guardians of our rural heritage. The
challenges they face are not just their own but affect us all. Ensuring the well-being of
farmers and the sustainability of agriculture is essential for the health of the economy and
the environment.
Why is adaptation important to build Agriculture Of Pakistan?
Carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is the primary driver of recent global warming, lingers in the atmosphere for many thousands of years, and the planet (especially the ocean) takes a while to respond to warming. So even if we stopped emitting all greenhouse gasses today, global warming and climate change will continue to affect future generations. In this way, humanity is “locked in” to some level of climate change.
Because of this, responding to climate change must involve a two-pronged approach:
1. Mitigating emissions and stabilize the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (“mitigation”)
2. Adapting to the climate change already in the pipeline (“adaptation”)
Nearly 80% of climate financing in Pakistan is focused on mitigation projects. Given the country’s existing vulnerabilities to climate disasters, there is an urgent need to invest in adaptation projects due to the high cost of inaction as seen in the scale of the damages in the 2022 floods.
Industry Of Pakistan
Pakistan has steadily been growing as an industrial hub – with around 18% of its GDP contributed by the manufacturing industry as of 2021. With both opportunities and advantages as well as challenges, we cover Pakistan as a manufacturing base.
What are the main industries in Pakistan?
Employing around 25% of its population, Pakistan’s industrial sector has grown exponentially since the 1960s when the country focused predominantly on light industrial manufacturing – textiles, sugar refining – and other industries making use of local raw materials. Today Pakistan is a diverse manufacturer and exporter. While textiles, cotton processing, petroleum, metal, cement, and fertilizers are the primary areas of production, the automotive industry has emerged rapidly over the past few years, and pharmaceuticals, leather, and surgical instruments are other players on the market.
While 55% of Pakistan’s main exports are textiles, vegetable products account for 13% of the exports, with mineral, food, and animal products making up a combined 12%.
Manufacturing is spread across Pakistan with certain areas of the country dominating various industrial production: Karachi for textiles and automotive; Faisalabad for textiles, furniture, starch; Sialkot for sporting goods, textiles; Lahore for automotive and motorcycles, electronics, chemicals, textiles; Gujranwala for iron and steel, plastics, food, textiles, leather; Gujrat for furniture, jewelry, handicrafts, shoes, food; Sheikhapura for chemicals, automotive, ceramics, pharmaceuticals.
Good news for wheat farmers, after fertilizer, certified wheat seed prices also fell
The efforts of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz have borne fruit. After fertilizer, the prices of certified wheat seeds have also come down. The prices of certified seeds of Punjab Seed Corporation are coming down drastically in the market. The rate of certified seeds of Punjab Seed Corporation has come down to Rs 4500 per bag instead of Rs 6300. Certified seeds are available at special centers of Punjab Seed Corporation and registered dealers.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that farmers are our brothers and it is our duty to take care of our brothers. We stand with the farmers of Punjab and will continue to stand with them.
He said that he would fulfill the vision of increasing production and prosperity of farmers.
The Chief Minister increased the number of Kisan cards, how much subsidy will be given per tractor? The Agriculture Minister told
A review meeting on wheat cultivation was held at the Commissioner Office Rawalpindi under the chairmanship of Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani. Addressing the participants of the meeting, Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the target of wheat cultivation in Punjab has been set at 16.5 million acres. The Chief Minister of Punjab has given a special reward package worth billions of rupees for farmers cultivating wheat on a large area. Under this special package, 1,000 tractors and 1,000 laser land levelers will be provided free of cost through lottery.
He further said that the target of wheat cultivation in Rawalpindi Division has been set at 1.491 million acres, against which wheat has been cultivated on more than 1.53 million acres. Wheat has been cultivated on more than the target area in Rawalpindi Division. So far, more than Rs 24 billion of DAP fertilizer has been purchased through Kisan Card. The use of DAP will increase wheat production. The Chief Minister of Punjab has increased the number of Kisan Cards from 500,000 to 750,000. The Punjab Agriculture Department is fully cooperating with the divisional and district administration in the wheat cultivation campaign.
