Pakistan Agriculture 08

Agriculture In Pakistan Problems and Recommendations

OVERVIEW • Agriculture Based Country • Contributes 21% to GDP • Employs 44% of total work-force • Two Principal Crop Seasons 1) Kharif 2) Rabi

GROWTH PERFORMANCE

PROBLEMS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Poverty

Recommendations: Higher Growth on a sustained basis

• Volatility in Agricultural Growth Recommendations: More Warehousing Facilities Expand Network of Agricultural Education Centers

• Structural Issues Recommendations: Change policy-orientation from focusing exclusively on price Move towards yield enhancement

PROBLEMS & RECOMMENDATIONS • Adequate and Timely Distribution of Water Recommendations:

Improve infrastructure for distributing water

• Cotton

Recommendations: Late sowing to be discouraged Subsidy on phosphate & potash fertilizer may cont. Growers to be encouraged to add micronutrients Availability of insect specific pesticides Special awareness programmes

PROBLEMS & RECOMMENDATIONS • Wheat Recommendations: Disallow Wheat export Adequate pricing of fertilizers Sufficient Irrigation water

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS • Technological advancement • Changes in price policy, trade policy, and fiscal policy • Strengthening the role of government in providing rural infrastructure • The government should remove all price supports and controls • Agricultural output prices should be determined by the market.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Research teams for Seeds, Soil etc Improvement in Canal System Training programmes Adult literacy programmes Decentralized Irrigation System Resolving disputes over irrigation system • Research on cropping systems • • • • • •