Farmers Experience Outstanding Success
Published on: October 19, 2023.
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PAKISTAN’S Agricultural Sector Resilient and Growing
PAKISTAN’S agricultural sector has been thriving despite facing numerous challenges. Farmers have showcased their expertise by achieving record-breaking volumes of cotton, rice, and wheat, which not only contribute significantly to the national economy but also ensure food security.
Cotton, a vital income source for millions of farmers and a crucial raw material for the textile industry, accounts for over half of the country’s exports. A successful cotton crop has led to increased production from 3.3 million bales to 8 million bales, with expectations of reaching 12 million bales by the end of the season.
While the textile industry has experienced growth over the past decade, there is still a need to cultivate more cotton to meet the domestic demand of 15 million bales yearly. Optimistically, it is anticipated that we will surpass our own requirements in the coming years.
In other positive news, rice exports have proven to be lucrative for traders and farmers this year. The upcoming rice harvest is expected to be a bumper crop, with experts forecasting exports worth $3 billion compared to the usual $2 billion. Rice not only serves as a staple food for the population but also holds significant value in the international market. Continuous efforts to diversify and enhance the quality of our rice variants are necessary to maintain our competitive advantage.
The country achieved a remarkable milestone in the 2022-23 crop year with a bumper wheat crop of 27.5 million tonnes. Despite the rising costs of fertilizers, petrol, diesel, and electricity this year, farmers are predicted to witness a significant increase in the area cultivated and overall wheat yield. It is anticipated that Pakistan will achieve a record-breaking production of 29 million tonnes.
Furthermore, the surplus wheat reserves held by the provinces and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) will be sufficient to meet the country’s consumption needs. Consequently, Pakistan will not need to import wheat in the forthcoming year of 2023-24. Wheat holds utmost importance in terms of food security and self-reliance. It is essential to ensure that farmers obtain fair prices for their produce while being safeguarded against market manipulation, hoarding, and smuggling.
The government should promptly announce the wheat support price and incentivize farmers to cultivate more wheat. This will be a proactive measure towards saving foreign exchange reserves and guaranteeing food security.
Azeem Hakro from Umerkot
Published in [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com), October 18th, 2023
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