Pakistan Agriculture Developments
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Issuance of agriculture loans to small farmers underway in Punjab
April 27, 2020
In Punjab, issuance of agriculture loans to small farmers is in progress.
According to a spokesman of Agri Department, agri loans worth thirty thousand rupees per acre are being provided for Rabi crop while of fifty thousand rupees per acre for Kharif crop.
These loans for owners of up to twelve point five acres are being provided without interest while on priority basis for owners up to five acres of land.
April 27, 2020
In Punjab, issuance of agriculture loans to small farmers is in progress.
According to a spokesman of Agri Department, agri loans worth thirty thousand rupees per acre are being provided for Rabi crop while of fifty thousand rupees per acre for Kharif crop.
These loans for owners of up to twelve point five acres are being provided without interest while on priority basis for owners up to five acres of land.
ghazi52
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As a 'green stimulus', Pakistan sets virus-idled to work planting trees
by Rina Saeed Khan |
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
The effort shows how funds to help families during the pandemic could also help prepare for the next big threat: climate change
Coronavirus is changing the world in unprecedented ways. Subscribe here for a daily briefing on how this global crisis is affecting cities, technology, approaches to climate change, and the lives of vulnerable people.
By Rina Saeed Khan
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When construction worker Abdul Rahman lost his job to Pakistan's coronavirus lockdown, his choices looked stark: resort to begging on the streets or let his family go hungry.
But the government has now given him a better option: Join tens of thousands of other out-of-work labourers in planting billions of trees across the country to deal with climate change threats.
Since Pakistan locked down starting March 23 to try to stem the spread of COVID-19, unemployed day labourers have been given new jobs as "jungle workers", planting saplings as part of the country's 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme.
Such "green stimulus" efforts are an example of how funds that aim to help families and keep the economy running during pandemic shutdowns could also help nations prepare for the next big threat: climate change.
"Due to coronavirus, all the cities have shut down and there is no work. Most of us daily wagers couldn't earn a living," Rahman, a resident of Rawalpindi district in Punjab province, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
He now makes 500 rupees ($3) per day planting trees - about half of what he might have made on a good day, but enough to get by.
"All of us now have a way of earning daily wages again to feed our families," he said.
The ambitious five-year tree-planting programme, which Prime Minister Imran Khan launched in 2018, aims to counter the rising temperatures, flooding, droughts and other extreme weather in the country that scientists link to climate change.
by Rina Saeed Khan |
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
The effort shows how funds to help families during the pandemic could also help prepare for the next big threat: climate change
Coronavirus is changing the world in unprecedented ways. Subscribe here for a daily briefing on how this global crisis is affecting cities, technology, approaches to climate change, and the lives of vulnerable people.
By Rina Saeed Khan
ISLAMABAD, April 28 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When construction worker Abdul Rahman lost his job to Pakistan's coronavirus lockdown, his choices looked stark: resort to begging on the streets or let his family go hungry.
But the government has now given him a better option: Join tens of thousands of other out-of-work labourers in planting billions of trees across the country to deal with climate change threats.
Since Pakistan locked down starting March 23 to try to stem the spread of COVID-19, unemployed day labourers have been given new jobs as "jungle workers", planting saplings as part of the country's 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme.
Such "green stimulus" efforts are an example of how funds that aim to help families and keep the economy running during pandemic shutdowns could also help nations prepare for the next big threat: climate change.
"Due to coronavirus, all the cities have shut down and there is no work. Most of us daily wagers couldn't earn a living," Rahman, a resident of Rawalpindi district in Punjab province, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
He now makes 500 rupees ($3) per day planting trees - about half of what he might have made on a good day, but enough to get by.
"All of us now have a way of earning daily wages again to feed our families," he said.
The ambitious five-year tree-planting programme, which Prime Minister Imran Khan launched in 2018, aims to counter the rising temperatures, flooding, droughts and other extreme weather in the country that scientists link to climate change.
ghazi52
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ایک معروف چینی کمپنی پاکستان میں زرعی مشینری و آلات کی تیاری کے لئے صنعتی یونٹ قائم کرے گی
زراعت کے شعبے میں پاکستان اور چین کا دوطرفہ تعاون کامیابی کی نئی بلندیوں کو چھو رہا ہے۔ پاکستان میں مقامی زراعت کے شعبے کی بڑھتی ہوئی طلب کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے چین کی ایک معروف کمپنی چنگ ڈاؤ ہانگژو ایگریکلچر مشینری کمپنی لمیٹڈ نے پاکستان میں زراعت کی مشینیں اور آلات تیار کرنے کے لئے ایک فیکٹری بنانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے
زراعت کے شعبے میں پاکستان اور چین کا دوطرفہ تعاون کامیابی کی نئی بلندیوں کو چھو رہا ہے۔ پاکستان میں مقامی زراعت کے شعبے کی بڑھتی ہوئی طلب کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے چین کی ایک معروف کمپنی چنگ ڈاؤ ہانگژو ایگریکلچر مشینری کمپنی لمیٹڈ نے پاکستان میں زراعت کی مشینیں اور آلات تیار کرنے کے لئے ایک فیکٹری بنانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے
ghazi52
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Fakhr-e-Alam
@falamb3
LOCUST Problem solution. A fresh annual passed Cessna 188 crop duster cost $85,000/- fuel burn 13.5 GPH. Running cost $225 per hour. Plenty single engine pilots in Pakistan can fly it. If you get the plane & the pesticide I offer my services FREE to fly it & spray the fields.
7:27 PM · May 7, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
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Retweets
@falamb3
LOCUST Problem solution. A fresh annual passed Cessna 188 crop duster cost $85,000/- fuel burn 13.5 GPH. Running cost $225 per hour. Plenty single engine pilots in Pakistan can fly it. If you get the plane & the pesticide I offer my services FREE to fly it & spray the fields.
7:27 PM · May 7, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
311
Retweets
Syed1.
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Using a plane for such low flying is risky and we even lost two pilots recently. This can easily be undertaken by drones. This situation is an opportunity for Pakistani companies to step up and develop quadcopter drones that can spray pesticide over large areas. Don't think they will step up to the challenge though. "China se import karalo" mentality is very rampant in our people.
ghazi52
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Rs 50bn relief for agriculture sector to be disbursed soon.
The Frontier Post
June 8, 2020
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Monday said that Rs 50 billion relief announced for agriculture sector would be disbursed soon.
He said this while talking to a delegation of farmers association led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in capacity of its president. The meeting was also attended by adviser on commerce and other officials.
“We will completely support farmers and will also include their suggestions in the budget,” said the finance adviser while extending his complete support.
He said that provision of direct relief to farmers was among the top priority of the government.
“We will be lowering electricity tariff, duty on fertilizers and mark-up on agricultural loans,” he said while sharing details of expected relief for farmers.
Hafeez Shaikh further said that the government would also appreciate suggestions from the agricultural sector for adequate disbursement of Rs 50 billion relief package.
“This sector has the potential to grow manifold as soon as the COVID-19 is being tackled,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) chaired by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh concluded with approval of a relief package for the agriculture sector on May 13.
According to sources, the ECC while deliberating over a 10-point agenda approved 56.6 billion rupees package for the agriculture sector. The farmers will be provided 37 billion rupees’ subsidy on purchase of fertilizer, sources said.
The cabinet committee also approved additional supply of wheat from PASSCO to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
The Frontier Post
June 8, 2020
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Monday said that Rs 50 billion relief announced for agriculture sector would be disbursed soon.
He said this while talking to a delegation of farmers association led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in capacity of its president. The meeting was also attended by adviser on commerce and other officials.
“We will completely support farmers and will also include their suggestions in the budget,” said the finance adviser while extending his complete support.
He said that provision of direct relief to farmers was among the top priority of the government.
“We will be lowering electricity tariff, duty on fertilizers and mark-up on agricultural loans,” he said while sharing details of expected relief for farmers.
Hafeez Shaikh further said that the government would also appreciate suggestions from the agricultural sector for adequate disbursement of Rs 50 billion relief package.
“This sector has the potential to grow manifold as soon as the COVID-19 is being tackled,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) chaired by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh concluded with approval of a relief package for the agriculture sector on May 13.
According to sources, the ECC while deliberating over a 10-point agenda approved 56.6 billion rupees package for the agriculture sector. The farmers will be provided 37 billion rupees’ subsidy on purchase of fertilizer, sources said.
The cabinet committee also approved additional supply of wheat from PASSCO to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
ghazi52
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Govt allows limitless wheat import by private sector
The federal government on Sunday decided to allow wheat import by the private sector without any restriction of limit and abolished 60% regulatory duty on import of wheat — the major staple food crop in Pakistan.
A meeting chaired by PM Imran Khan also decided to abolish 6% and 2% additional duties currently applicable to wheat import. The waiver will also be applicable to the import of 0.5 million tonnes of wheat, already allowed by the Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet in March.
The meeting was called to discuss the measures to cope with the country’s needs of wheat and control flour price and also decided to lift ban on inter-provincial transportation of wheat to ensure its sufficient availability across the country.
Decides to abolish regulatory duty, lift ban on inter-provincial transportation of wheat
It was decided that the government would curb smuggling of wheat and flour and launch a crackdown on the hoarders
The federal government on Sunday decided to allow wheat import by the private sector without any restriction of limit and abolished 60% regulatory duty on import of wheat — the major staple food crop in Pakistan.
A meeting chaired by PM Imran Khan also decided to abolish 6% and 2% additional duties currently applicable to wheat import. The waiver will also be applicable to the import of 0.5 million tonnes of wheat, already allowed by the Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet in March.
The meeting was called to discuss the measures to cope with the country’s needs of wheat and control flour price and also decided to lift ban on inter-provincial transportation of wheat to ensure its sufficient availability across the country.
Decides to abolish regulatory duty, lift ban on inter-provincial transportation of wheat
It was decided that the government would curb smuggling of wheat and flour and launch a crackdown on the hoarders
ghazi52
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If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right in the country
https://nation.com.pk/blogger/sameera-asghar-roy
Sumeera Asghar Roy
June 19, 2020
It was not the agriculture sector that was sidelined by the government in the current budget, and it was the opulence of Pakistan. Agriculture has been considered the buttress of the country since its independence. Pakistan's agriculture sector plays a pivotal role as it comes up with 26 percent of GDP and almost 60 percent of the population of Pakistan is residing in villages, and they are connected to the profession of agriculture directly or indirectly, so it has been absorbing the labor force which is not less than 42.3 percent.
Recently budget was announced by Hammad Azhar, who is the current Federal Minister of Industries and Production, in office since 6 April 2020. Previously, he served as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs from 10 July 2019 till 6 April 2020. As we take a bird's eye view of the budget, we come to know that a budget bomb is dropped on populaces, which are connected with the occupation of agriculture. The sector, which is the largest participator of Pakistan's economy, has been provided only 12 billion rupees in the budget out of 7294.9 billion rupees, which seems a mustard seed against a big massive watermelon.
It is not for the first time that the agriculture sector is being paralyzed. It has become a routine matter by every government that they are neglecting this very important sector. It is out of an understanding of how a country can neglect that sector, which is the mainstay of its economy, and most of the labor force is absorbed by it. How can they be unaware of the gravity of the importance of this sector? If this attitude goes unabated, one day, we will have to import agricultural commodities like wheat, cotton, rice, sugar, and other necessary articles.
Poor countrymen are already being exploited by the capitalist and mafias who are playing a double game by cheating indigent farmers, impecunious consumers as well as the government. At the time of harvesting mill owners pay less to the farmers (as in case of sugarcane this year) and betray them by measuring less and by keeping two record books to hide their treachery from the government. Instead of capturing those crocodiles, the government, too, is supporting them by not taking stern actions against them. And yet here is another budget bomb on impoverished farmers.
As locust attack has already devastated the crops which were the sole source of income of poor farmers before announcing the budget, the government should have kept it in consideration, and it should have provided interest-free loans for the farmers to assuage the poor farmers who are already being crushed by the capitalist and big crocodiles (mafias).
The government must not ignore this factor that the population of the country is growing wildly, and it will become impossible to meet the food stipulation of the people if it will keep neglecting this important sector of Pakistan. It may create a fear of food insecurity among people. Here it is necessary to mention that the government has allocated only Rs 4.5 billion for the education ministry, while illiteracy is the main reason for overpopulation.
When I was taking an overview of the budget, I felt grieved when my eyes caught the attention of defense budget, which was not less than 1.2 trillion rupees, and the reason is only one country, i.e., India. The government is getting more conscious about the defense budget since the Modi government has come to power by bringing its nationalist ideology along with it. If India and Pakistan had been at good terms, this massive investment of defense budget could have been utilized in other sectors like agriculture, education, and structural reforms of the said countries. Moreover, now the time of conventional war is gone, now wars are more intellectual and research-oriented, as this age of biological wars and threats, so we need to more equipped in educational and research areas than nuclear atomic bombs and missiles. As this Covid19 proved and unveiled India's and Pakistan's health sector and governments, the way miserably both these governments failed to encounter it.
It seems like we are not ready for the worst until or unless it will approach us in a condition when we are not in a position to combat such a worse condition. Now is the time to take a stand; otherwise, our coming generations will embrace such catastrophes, which will be far bigger than their reckoning and potentiality.
The agriculture sector is interconnected with other sectors like the health sector, industries like sugar, timber, and textile industry. If our government starts to invest in the agriculture sector, it will help it to reduce the health budget because there will be more healthy people when they are nourished well by availing all kinds of nutrients. It will b only possible when there is enough food to eat. It will also help to flourish in the industrial sector when there is enough raw material that comes from the agriculture sector.
So, if a sector is making 26 percent of a country's GDP, then the government too must be fair with that sector by allocating at least 15 to 20 percent of its budget. On one side notion of green and clean Pakistan is being raised, whereas, on the other side, this sector is being provided a mere 12 billion rupees. The country will not get flourished with notions only. This dichotomy will lead this country towards the risks of food insecurity, poor health, poverty, displacements, and many other issues. What can I mutter about the institutions which are dealing with agriculture? If they were sincere with their duties, this sector would not face such circumstances. They have not strived to introduce technology and revolution in this sector; rather, they have messed up things. The youth is not being involved. Jobs are being given on the basis of nepotism and favoritism.
I will request the government to reconsider this budget and make some fair decisions about the health, education, and agriculture sector that our coming generations may not have to face this menace of poverty and food insecurity. Instead of rhetoric with neighboring countries, friendly relations must be established that we may able to invest in reforms of our countries. We must compete in poverty alleviation, education, and the technology sector. We must get rid of outdated and obsolete methods of farming and learn from countries like Australia, China, Israel, and Canada that how they helped to bring positive changes to improve its agricultural sector. Time is now lest we should become a burden on our coming generation!!!
https://nation.com.pk/blogger/sameera-asghar-roy
Sumeera Asghar Roy
June 19, 2020
It was not the agriculture sector that was sidelined by the government in the current budget, and it was the opulence of Pakistan. Agriculture has been considered the buttress of the country since its independence. Pakistan's agriculture sector plays a pivotal role as it comes up with 26 percent of GDP and almost 60 percent of the population of Pakistan is residing in villages, and they are connected to the profession of agriculture directly or indirectly, so it has been absorbing the labor force which is not less than 42.3 percent.
Recently budget was announced by Hammad Azhar, who is the current Federal Minister of Industries and Production, in office since 6 April 2020. Previously, he served as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs from 10 July 2019 till 6 April 2020. As we take a bird's eye view of the budget, we come to know that a budget bomb is dropped on populaces, which are connected with the occupation of agriculture. The sector, which is the largest participator of Pakistan's economy, has been provided only 12 billion rupees in the budget out of 7294.9 billion rupees, which seems a mustard seed against a big massive watermelon.
It is not for the first time that the agriculture sector is being paralyzed. It has become a routine matter by every government that they are neglecting this very important sector. It is out of an understanding of how a country can neglect that sector, which is the mainstay of its economy, and most of the labor force is absorbed by it. How can they be unaware of the gravity of the importance of this sector? If this attitude goes unabated, one day, we will have to import agricultural commodities like wheat, cotton, rice, sugar, and other necessary articles.
Poor countrymen are already being exploited by the capitalist and mafias who are playing a double game by cheating indigent farmers, impecunious consumers as well as the government. At the time of harvesting mill owners pay less to the farmers (as in case of sugarcane this year) and betray them by measuring less and by keeping two record books to hide their treachery from the government. Instead of capturing those crocodiles, the government, too, is supporting them by not taking stern actions against them. And yet here is another budget bomb on impoverished farmers.
As locust attack has already devastated the crops which were the sole source of income of poor farmers before announcing the budget, the government should have kept it in consideration, and it should have provided interest-free loans for the farmers to assuage the poor farmers who are already being crushed by the capitalist and big crocodiles (mafias).
The government must not ignore this factor that the population of the country is growing wildly, and it will become impossible to meet the food stipulation of the people if it will keep neglecting this important sector of Pakistan. It may create a fear of food insecurity among people. Here it is necessary to mention that the government has allocated only Rs 4.5 billion for the education ministry, while illiteracy is the main reason for overpopulation.
When I was taking an overview of the budget, I felt grieved when my eyes caught the attention of defense budget, which was not less than 1.2 trillion rupees, and the reason is only one country, i.e., India. The government is getting more conscious about the defense budget since the Modi government has come to power by bringing its nationalist ideology along with it. If India and Pakistan had been at good terms, this massive investment of defense budget could have been utilized in other sectors like agriculture, education, and structural reforms of the said countries. Moreover, now the time of conventional war is gone, now wars are more intellectual and research-oriented, as this age of biological wars and threats, so we need to more equipped in educational and research areas than nuclear atomic bombs and missiles. As this Covid19 proved and unveiled India's and Pakistan's health sector and governments, the way miserably both these governments failed to encounter it.
It seems like we are not ready for the worst until or unless it will approach us in a condition when we are not in a position to combat such a worse condition. Now is the time to take a stand; otherwise, our coming generations will embrace such catastrophes, which will be far bigger than their reckoning and potentiality.
The agriculture sector is interconnected with other sectors like the health sector, industries like sugar, timber, and textile industry. If our government starts to invest in the agriculture sector, it will help it to reduce the health budget because there will be more healthy people when they are nourished well by availing all kinds of nutrients. It will b only possible when there is enough food to eat. It will also help to flourish in the industrial sector when there is enough raw material that comes from the agriculture sector.
So, if a sector is making 26 percent of a country's GDP, then the government too must be fair with that sector by allocating at least 15 to 20 percent of its budget. On one side notion of green and clean Pakistan is being raised, whereas, on the other side, this sector is being provided a mere 12 billion rupees. The country will not get flourished with notions only. This dichotomy will lead this country towards the risks of food insecurity, poor health, poverty, displacements, and many other issues. What can I mutter about the institutions which are dealing with agriculture? If they were sincere with their duties, this sector would not face such circumstances. They have not strived to introduce technology and revolution in this sector; rather, they have messed up things. The youth is not being involved. Jobs are being given on the basis of nepotism and favoritism.
I will request the government to reconsider this budget and make some fair decisions about the health, education, and agriculture sector that our coming generations may not have to face this menace of poverty and food insecurity. Instead of rhetoric with neighboring countries, friendly relations must be established that we may able to invest in reforms of our countries. We must compete in poverty alleviation, education, and the technology sector. We must get rid of outdated and obsolete methods of farming and learn from countries like Australia, China, Israel, and Canada that how they helped to bring positive changes to improve its agricultural sector. Time is now lest we should become a burden on our coming generation!!!
ghazi52
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Pakistani student in China striving to promote agriculture & technology cooperation under BRI
Abdul Ghaffar Shar, a Pakistani doctoral student in China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), was busy helping his teachers harvest the wheat in the university’s experimental fields over the past few days.
Wearing a straw hat and gloves, Shar, 29, did farm work under the hot sun like local farmers in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi province.
Yangling, an agricultural hi-tech industrial demonstration zone in China, is located about 80 km from the starting point of the ancient Silk Road in Xi’an, the provincial capital.
More than 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy, set off from Xi’an and traveled westward on a mission of peace that opened the Silk Road, an overland route linking the East and West.
Although he knew little about Zhang, Shar said he also wants to be an “envoy” between China and Pakistan as the two countries deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“I am studying plant nutrition science in China. I hope I can play a role in strengthening the agricultural technology exchange between the two countries under the initiative,” said Shar.
FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Sindh Agriculture University in Pakistan in 2014, Shar decided to continue studies in China’s NWAFU.
A new journey started.
Shar learned to speak mandarin and use chopsticks. He also adapted to Chinese food. In order to make more friends, Shar let his teacher give him a Chinese name “Jin Letian”, which means “golden, happiness and sky.”
EMBRACE BETTER LIFE
Shar is researching plant nutrition for his doctoral degree.
In Shar’s opinion, Pakistan is a traditional agricultural country and farmers use many chemical fertilizers in the fields, which has a negative impact on soil fertility and the environment.
“I study to improve soil fertility by adjusting trace elements of farmlands, which will help increase grain yields in my hometown,” he said.
In the past six years, Shar collected research samples extensively from all around the experiment stations in Shaanxi, which also gave him an opportunity to experience the development of China’s rural areas.
“A village that we frequented in Sanyuan County had new changes almost every year, like newly renovated houses and wider roads,” he said.
Abdul Ghaffar Shar, a Pakistani doctoral student in China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), was busy helping his teachers harvest the wheat in the university’s experimental fields over the past few days.
Wearing a straw hat and gloves, Shar, 29, did farm work under the hot sun like local farmers in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi province.
Yangling, an agricultural hi-tech industrial demonstration zone in China, is located about 80 km from the starting point of the ancient Silk Road in Xi’an, the provincial capital.
More than 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy, set off from Xi’an and traveled westward on a mission of peace that opened the Silk Road, an overland route linking the East and West.
Although he knew little about Zhang, Shar said he also wants to be an “envoy” between China and Pakistan as the two countries deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“I am studying plant nutrition science in China. I hope I can play a role in strengthening the agricultural technology exchange between the two countries under the initiative,” said Shar.
FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Sindh Agriculture University in Pakistan in 2014, Shar decided to continue studies in China’s NWAFU.
A new journey started.
Shar learned to speak mandarin and use chopsticks. He also adapted to Chinese food. In order to make more friends, Shar let his teacher give him a Chinese name “Jin Letian”, which means “golden, happiness and sky.”
EMBRACE BETTER LIFE
Shar is researching plant nutrition for his doctoral degree.
In Shar’s opinion, Pakistan is a traditional agricultural country and farmers use many chemical fertilizers in the fields, which has a negative impact on soil fertility and the environment.
“I study to improve soil fertility by adjusting trace elements of farmlands, which will help increase grain yields in my hometown,” he said.
In the past six years, Shar collected research samples extensively from all around the experiment stations in Shaanxi, which also gave him an opportunity to experience the development of China’s rural areas.
“A village that we frequented in Sanyuan County had new changes almost every year, like newly renovated houses and wider roads,” he said.
ghazi52
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Chinese seeds to enhance cotton crop yield, says food minister
June 28, 2020
Harsh weather, locust attacks and water shortages have affected cotton crop production which has seen a decline over past few years.—File photo
ISLAMABAD: Technological advancement is imperative in order to increase per acre cotton yield in the country, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said on Saturday.
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Imam said that his ministry was working on transfer of Chinese seed technology for enhancing crop yield, besides securing funds to reduce cost to make cotton production a profitable business.
The PCGA delegation, led by chairman Sohail Javed, apprised the minister about issues and challenges faced by the local cotton sector and said the declining production was affecting ginning the most.
They added that other issues like piled-up tax refunds, slower buying of cotton by All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association, and liquidity crisis hampering the ginning sector adversely during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Imam said the ministry would take up the taxation issue with the Finance Division and leave no stone unturned to get relief for the ginning sector.
NA informed Plant Breeders Act not being implemented properly
He also asked PCGA to send a set of proposals for modernising the ginning sector and upgrade technology to improve the quality of lint produced in Pakistan.
The delegation informed that over 1,300 ginning factories are installed across the cotton belt and these have the ability to gin 14 million bales but due to short production for a few years, only 800 were in operation last year.
It’s a seasonal business and that’s why most of the ginning factories also have oil extraction units to utilise the cottonseed — a byproduct — and convert into oil and cottonseed cake.
Meanwhile, speaking during the National Assembly session, the minister said the Seed Act and Plant Breeders Act have become laws a couple of years ago but were still not being implemented properly.
Pakistan is lagging behind in research which is also resulting in low cotton output, he regretted.
Imam stated that universities and research departments should be groomed and advanced technology be applied for the benefit of agriculture.
The minister said there is no doubt that Pakistan is an agro-based country but we have not focused on it as we should have over the years.
Roughly 24m hectares of area is under cultivation of our total agriculture land.
“We should have grown between 35m and 40m tonnes of wheat now. The country is importing the crop as we are lagging behind our needs. Even after almost ten years, our price is less than the international market,” he said.
About the drawbacks in tackling the desert locust crisis, he explained that pace of the operation was slow due to non-availability of micron sprayers. Now the Food and Agriculture Organisation and Department for International Development have supplied twenty of those, which would help boost the operation.
Similarly, the plant protection department was facing a shortage of trained manpower to handle the anti-locust operation at large scale. “At present we have only thirty experts whereas 300 are required to carry it out,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2020
June 28, 2020
Harsh weather, locust attacks and water shortages have affected cotton crop production which has seen a decline over past few years.—File photo
ISLAMABAD: Technological advancement is imperative in order to increase per acre cotton yield in the country, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said on Saturday.
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Imam said that his ministry was working on transfer of Chinese seed technology for enhancing crop yield, besides securing funds to reduce cost to make cotton production a profitable business.
The PCGA delegation, led by chairman Sohail Javed, apprised the minister about issues and challenges faced by the local cotton sector and said the declining production was affecting ginning the most.
They added that other issues like piled-up tax refunds, slower buying of cotton by All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association, and liquidity crisis hampering the ginning sector adversely during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Imam said the ministry would take up the taxation issue with the Finance Division and leave no stone unturned to get relief for the ginning sector.
NA informed Plant Breeders Act not being implemented properly
He also asked PCGA to send a set of proposals for modernising the ginning sector and upgrade technology to improve the quality of lint produced in Pakistan.
The delegation informed that over 1,300 ginning factories are installed across the cotton belt and these have the ability to gin 14 million bales but due to short production for a few years, only 800 were in operation last year.
It’s a seasonal business and that’s why most of the ginning factories also have oil extraction units to utilise the cottonseed — a byproduct — and convert into oil and cottonseed cake.
Meanwhile, speaking during the National Assembly session, the minister said the Seed Act and Plant Breeders Act have become laws a couple of years ago but were still not being implemented properly.
Pakistan is lagging behind in research which is also resulting in low cotton output, he regretted.
Imam stated that universities and research departments should be groomed and advanced technology be applied for the benefit of agriculture.
The minister said there is no doubt that Pakistan is an agro-based country but we have not focused on it as we should have over the years.
Roughly 24m hectares of area is under cultivation of our total agriculture land.
“We should have grown between 35m and 40m tonnes of wheat now. The country is importing the crop as we are lagging behind our needs. Even after almost ten years, our price is less than the international market,” he said.
About the drawbacks in tackling the desert locust crisis, he explained that pace of the operation was slow due to non-availability of micron sprayers. Now the Food and Agriculture Organisation and Department for International Development have supplied twenty of those, which would help boost the operation.
Similarly, the plant protection department was facing a shortage of trained manpower to handle the anti-locust operation at large scale. “At present we have only thirty experts whereas 300 are required to carry it out,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2020
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Its all a joke, do u think 18 lac for drip irrigation is affordable for small farmers?
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