Daily Times

Planning, Development, Reforms & Statistics Minister Khusro Bakhtiar said on Tuesday that special emphasis will be laid on developing and modernising the agriculture sector in the next five-year plan.

He stated that both short and long term strategies will be devised in consultation with all stakeholders to harness the potential that this crucial sector offers to enhance agriculture growth and its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

The minister was chairing a consultative meeting on agriculture sector development. National Food Security & Research Minister Mehboob Sultan, Kashmir & Gilgit Baltistan Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Spokesperson for Prime Minister Nadeem Afzal Chan, Member of National Assembly Ibrahim Khan, senior officials from ministries of national food security and planning were also present in the meeting.

The minister said that the agriculture sector was neglected in the last plan and its growth remained dismal during the last five years which is evident from the fact that almost all targets in this area were missed. He underlined that the progress of agriculture sector provides a sound base for economic development and the present government was paying special attention on agriculture development by focusing on improving its key sectors including livestock and fisheries.

He added that yield of major crops like cotton, wheat; sugarcane and rice will be enhanced by adopting some of the best irrigation and farming practices, efficient water management and quality agriculture inputs. Livestock and fisheries sectors also offer great export potential that will be harnessed to boost the country’s exports, stated the minister.

Khusro Bakhtiar noted that research and development as well as innovative farming practices remained the most neglected areas adding that special resources will be allocated for these purposes to uplift the agriculture sector. He said that PSDP will be reviewed in consultation with all the provincial governments with regard to irrigation and agriculture sector needs in order to boost agricultural productivity.

The minister recalled that during the recent visit of PM Imran Khan to China, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on November 3, 2018 in the field of agriculture to strengthen and promote technology transfer, trade facilitation, scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries. The minister said that the first meeting of Joint Working Group on agriculture will be convened next month to work out modalities and way forward to expand and broaden the scope of cooperation for the mutual benefit of Pakistan and China.

Bakhtiar said that development of agriculture sector will also help in poverty reduction as a large number of country’s population was linked to this key field. He underscored that focusing on socio-economic development of marginalised sections of the society was among top priorities of the present government.

During the meeting, the proposal also came under discussion to do away with the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess on fertilisers especially urea and to provide relief to farmers through provision of subsidy on agriculture inputs.

Published in Daily Times, January 23^rd 2019.