COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock Campus

Pakistan Studies

Assignment # 02

 Name: Rabia Khalid

 Roll No: (CIIT/FA15-BEE-002/ATK)

 Batch: BS(EE)- 8

 Department : Electrical Engineering

 Course Code: HUM111

 Submitted to: Mr. Sadan Ali

 Submission Date: 07th April, 2019

Question#1: The Agriculture Sector is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan is
considered as being an agrarian country and about 80% of Pakistan’s population is
associated with the agriculture sector for their livelihood. In spite of its due importance and
utility for the country’s economy, the Agriculture Sector remained under-developed and
under-privileged for many reasons. Keeping this scenario in mind, propose essential steps
that should be taken by the government for agricultural reforms and sustainable
development as a remedy to enhance the agricultural production in Pakistan.
Answer: Pakistan is basically an agrarian country which means agriculture plays a role of
backbone for our country. But due to some problems, classified as techno-economic problems,
natural problems, socio-economic problems and financial problems, per acre yield of Pakistan is
less than many other developed countries. This is one of the reasons that Pakistan is still under
developed countries list.
In order to solve the problems faced by Pakistan in the field of agriculture, certain measurements
are required to be taken on urgent basis. These measurements are as follow:
1. Supply of Agriculture Credit
2. Water Logging and Salinity Control
3. Agricultural Research
4. Training of Farmers
5. Provision of HYV Seed
6. Mechanization
7. Agro-Based Industries
8. Construction of Dams
9. Tax Concessions
10. Prices of Agricultural Productivities
1. Supply of Agriculture Credit:
As Pakistan is an under developed country so the farmers are not in a condition to afford
expensive technologies which is one of the reason of not getting greater yield per acre. At
this stage the government should give the farmers some credit on easy terms and conditions
so that they can use new technologies for greater production. Till now the government gave
an amount of Rs. 85,177 million is disbursed by commercial banks in 2009 and Rs. 49 billion
was distributed by ZTBL. ZTBL issued credit or Rs. 37.4 billion during 2010-2011.
2. Water Logging and Salinity Control:
Water logging and salinity are known as the twin problems faced by agriculture sector in
Pakistan. They destroy round about one million acres of land every year especially in the
province of in Punjab and Sindh. This destruction of land results in the reduction of our
cultivable area. In order to solve this issue, the installation of tube wells, repair of canal
banks and drainage of water etc. are needed to done as soon as possible. In the current phase
the Ministry of Agriculture proposed to invest Rs. 18.5 billion with the objective of
 converting 2,00,000 acres of irrigated land to drip and shower irrigation system which is a
major step towards the solution of these problems.
3. Agricultural Research:
Research is very important in any field of work in order to know about the past work in that
field and in order to keep ourselves updated. So, agricultural research is compulsory to
remove the backwardness of the agriculture sector. Major agricultural colleges and
universities are only about 16 in Pakistan. The government should increase the research work
in the field of agriculture. Research about land is also very important because land changes
its fertility level with the passage of time.
4. Training of Farmers:
Training of labor is very important in order to make them familiar with latest technologies.
Our farmers are illiterate and not so much well trained due to which their efficiencies are
poor. The government should start a special educational training program for farmers and
give them training about farming and the use of latest technologies.
5. Provision of HYV Seed:
For greater production a high yielding variety seed is required which is not available at a
suitable price in Pakistan. So, farmers have to depend upon the low quality of seeds because
they are unable to afford the expensive seeds. Due to this reason there is a 20% reduction in
total production. The government should provide HYV seed at a minimum price in this case.
6. Mechanization:
In modern world, the labor work is replaced by machines. Due to which large amount of
work is done in minimum time with minimum effort. So, farm mechanization is necessary to
remove the problems to the agriculture sector. Sowing, cultivation, and harvesting of crops
through agricultural machines increase the product quality and quantity. And farmer can
utilized their saved force in some other important works.
7. Agro-Based Industries:
In order to support agriculture sector the agro-based industries, like poultry, fisheries, dairy,
and livestock should be establish as soon as possible. These industries indirectly lead to
improving the agriculture sector which is a basic need of present era for Pakistan.
8. Construction of Dams:
Construction of dams is very important thing to be kept in mind due to many reasons.
Sometimes, due to heavy unwanted rains and floods agricultural productivities destroys. So,
as in case if there is no proper availability of water for crops, the farmer can utilized stored
water for watering crops. Also in case, there is heavy rainfall, the flood can be stopped if
there will be more dams to stored enough water.
9. Tax Concessions:
As Pakistan is in under developed countries list, so we have to import modern machinery. As
mechanization is necessary to remove the problems of the agriculture sector so the
government should give tax concession on imports of agricultural technologies to enhance
the process of farm mechanization because farmers are unable to pay heavy tax amounts and
 they avoid the use of latest machinery which leads to low production rate per acre in every
season.
10. Prices of Agricultural Productivities:
Farmers spend a lot of time and put a lot of efforts in farms but sometimes, our farmers
receive low prices of their crops. There is no proper effective price policy of the government
which is not a good thing for the farmers because their living standard remains the same even
after putting a very hard effort. The government should set reasonable prices of agricultural
productions to develop the living standard of farmers.
Conclusion:
It is concluded for the above discussion that it is not the farmers which can make this country a
developed country, the government also have to play a major role in the development of this
country by supporting farmers and agriculture sector. Because being an agrarian country, our
backbone is agriculture sector. And we can be a developed country very soon if we give special
attention towards our agriculture sector.