Khan Faraz
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 practise 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.
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