Issues of Agricultural Sector

Agriculture 21% of GDP and 50% of employers

 Economic
o Lack of lined canals – around 20-30% of water is absorbed by ground underneath canals.
o Limited cultivable area – water constraints, expansion of cities
o Waterlogging and salinity
o Subsistence farming – should be more cash crops
o Lack of irrigation facilities
o Land reforms
o Shortage of credit facilities
o Unstable market prices
o Role of middle man
o Should make value-added products
 Socio Political
o Lack of water supply
o Regional water politics
o Lack of agro based research – need for new strands, biologically modified seeds
o Scarcity of HYV seeds
o Illiteracy
o Corruption and mafia – need to make anti-trust laws which increase competition, break
monopoly

Effects of the decline in Agricultural Sector

 Lack of food supply

 22% malnutrition in the country
 43% food insecure
 Unemployment and lack of finances for farmers
 Reduction in exports of the country – majority of exports are from agricultural sector

Solutions for the decline in Agricultural Sector

 Agricultural research
 Tech incorporation
 Literacy – vocational training
 Lined canals
 Drip irrigation, sprinkler system
 Water supply metered
 Provision of HYV and fertilizers
 Legislation for crop rotation
 Market prices ensured for farmers – need for devolvement to lower level
 Agro-based credit policies
 Increase of cultivable area e.g. in Balochistan etc
 Effective subsidies
 Rural electrification