PM Sharif Calls for Action to Boost Agricultural Production

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif emphasized the need for a complete strategy to enhance agricultural output and expedite agricultural changes in Pakistan on Tuesday.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister issued these instructions while presiding over a review meeting on matters pertaining to the agriculture sector.

The Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, agricultural experts, and other senior relevant officials attended the meeting.

The meeting received briefings on last year’s production of major Rabi and Kharif crops, the difficulties encountered by farmers, future strategy and proposals, progress on the implementation of government reforms, and the effects of climate change on agriculture.

The Prime Minister instructed authorities to submit a comprehensive short- and long-term plan for providing modern agricultural machinery, high-quality seeds, geographic crop planning, and simple loan access for farmers.

He stated that a thorough plan should be developed, following in-depth consultations with provincial governments, for cotton cultivation in new, suitable locations, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, taking into account rainfall patterns and other climatic changes.

He emphasized that agricultural research centers should be more proactive in order to raise crop yields per acre. Furthermore, public-private partnerships in agricultural research centers should be encouraged to advance modern research.

The prime minister also requested a strategy for incorporating biofuels into the country’s energy mix.

He also directed the presentation of a roadmap for the development of small- and medium-scale agri-based industries, with the goal of producing export-quality goods through value addition to agricultural commodities.

He stated that “all necessary support be provided to farmers to grow profitable crops and make Pakistan self-sufficient in food security.”