Agriculture is the mainstay of the country’s economy. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2011-12, the agriculture sector is the second-largest sector of the economy and contributes about 21 percent to the GDP. It provides 45 percent of the country’s labour force with employment opportunities and 60 percent of the rural population depends directly or indirectly upon this sector for its livelihood. According to the Survey, Pakistan’s agriculture grew by 3.1 percent against the targeted 3.4 percent. Agriculture is continuously witnessing a downward trend. It has registered an overall decline of 10 percent in several major and minor crops during the last three years.
The top reasons for the decline have been the floods in the country during 2010 and the heavy rains in Sindh in the summer of 2011. This is not to mention the lack of research, insufficient funds allocation and discouragement to domestic varieties among the major impediments in the development of agriculture. Therefore, farmers should practice knowledge and improve food security through sustainable agriculture. Promotion of sustainable agriculture will not only save the environment, it will also boost the farmers’ income.
Khan Faraz,
Peshawar, July 23.