Crop growing enticement.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

Agricultural statistics revealed that Pakistan is an agriculture-based economy, where majority of the population directly or indirectly depends on this sector. Agriculture has been a big source of foreign exchange earnings, but unhappily this sector has been neglected, forcing people to migrate from rural to urban areas for career opportunities. Statistics revealed that agriculture contributes 18.9 percent to the GDP and employs 42.3 percent of the labour force. It is also registered that the sub-sectors of agriculture, which include minor crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry, have the potential to increase growers' earnings by ensuring the export of surplus stocks to neighbouring markets.

Unluckily, various educated people believe that agriculture is old-fashioned. What they fail to understand is that agriculture-related businesses have a greater trickle-down effect and create greater career opportunities. Young people should invest their energies, knowledge and skills to attain higher productivity in agriculture.

The Board of Investment (BoI) is also trying to lure firms, mainly agro-giants around the world, to come and invest in the country. Different sources also recorded that Cargill, the US agro-giant, met Prime Minister aide Dawood and proclaimed an investment of $200 million in Pakistan's agriculture sector. Cargill would bring world-class innovations to support the flourishing dairy industry in the country, which is already moving towards modernisation. Investors are keen now to invest in the agriculture sector of the country.

However, the Government of Pakistan should take strictly measures to enhance the quality of agricultural products, particularly in the livestock sector, in line with international standards. Different countries are now focusing on agriculture in Pakistan. The Netherlands has enlarged its support for enhancing agriculture and agro-business. A Dutch agro-business delegation is coming to Pakistan in March, which is predicted to sign contracts for investment, trade and research in agriculture with private-sector firms of Pakistan.

Pakistan-China mega project

Various experts recorded that China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) could have offered an opportunity to increase the agriculture sector, but the Government of Pakistan should now pay attention on it. Pakistan has always been a traditional exporter of textile products, but the government experts did not pay heed to calls...