Importance of Agriculture
Pakistan is a developing country. Its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. Approximately 55% of Pakistan’s population is directly or indirectly associated with agriculture. Approximately 19.2% of our GDP comes from agriculture. Most of the industrial units in Pakistan use raw material coming from agricultural sector. Major crops of our country include food grains and cash crops. The food grains are wheat, rice, gram, corn, millet, sorghum, pulses, oil seeds etc. Some industrial units use the food grains as raw material. These crops fulfill the country’s food requirements. The cash crops include cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, jute etc., which are used as raw material in many industrial units and are exported as well. The process of modernization of agricultural in Pakistan keeps going on. Pakistan’s irrigation system is quite extensive and modern. In the areas where canal system does not exist, irrigation is done through hill torrents, springs and wells/tube wells.
I. Agricultural Constraints and Reforms
a) Constraints
Allah has bestowed upon Pakistan a variety of climate and fertile soil. Our country is located in that part of the world where all major seasons prevail. This is why our lands produce a large variety of crops and vegetables. The total land area of Pakistan is 47% out of which 20% is rainfed, while 80% is irrigated. Irrigation means to supply crops with water through artificial means (i.e. means other than direct natural rain). Pakistan’s population has been rapidly increasing since independence. With the increase in population, demand for food also increases. In Pakistan per acre yield is very low as compare to many other countries of the world. The decreasing fertility of soil, waterlogging and salinity, use of traditional farming methods and substandard seeds, dry climate, inadequate means of irrigation, crops diseases, lack of education and training in farmers etc. are some of the factors that are responsible for low yield.
b) Reforms
To enhance the productivity of land the following measures are being taken:
II) Use of Chemical Fertilizer
Today only those types of crops are preferred to be cultivated whose per acre yield is high. But such crops require greater feed which the chemical fertilizer only can provide. In Pakistan during 2017-18 the production of chemical fertilizers was 6 million metric tonne. 0.1 million metric tonne was imported also. Owing to the importance of chemical fertilizer, the government gives subsidy in its price to the farmers. For the purchase of fertilizer, the agricultural banks also provide loans at low rate of interest.
III) Use of Machinery
In Pakistan farming is mostly done by using traditional methods. Ploughing, sowing and threshing by animals, harvesting with hand sickle etc. are what we call “traditional methods of farming”. These methods do not help. cultivate lands on a large scale. Besides, these cause huge loss to the harvest as well. These problems can be solved by using modern machinery. Presently, the use of tractor is common. In addition to ploughing it can also help in sowing, harvesting and threshing if special machinery is attached to it. The government encourages the use of modern agricultural machinery by reducing import taxes on it.
IV) Use of Agricultural Medicines
Like animals, plants also have certain diseases. It is estimated that diseases and insects cause 20% loss to crops yield. Now the farmers in Pakistan are using pesticides and insecticides despite the fact that they are poisonous and cause harm to human health. It is essential to cultivate such types of crops which have strong resistance power against diseases.
iv) Use of Improved Seeds
Improved seeds show resistance against diseases and give high yield. To improve seeds, an organization has been established that operates laboratories at about 17 areas of different climates all over the country. Seed corporations are also active in this regard in all provinces. Moreover, international companies are also providing improved seeds.
