Getting it wrong?

The federal budget for 2022-23 has disappointed the farming community which feels the document lacks any vision and leaves the real issues - water, fertiliser and cheaper fuel - of the agriculture sector unattended with no efforts to reduce the cost of producing crops.

An allocation of Rs21 billion has been made to finance a 'vague' three-year growth strategy for agriculture and its subsector livestock without a plan or an explainer of whether the allocation is for a year or the full three-year life of the strategy.

'Vision is missing from the budget as allocations made for the agriculture sector have been spread in bits throughout the document making things foggy,' complains Ibadur Rehman of the Farmers Association of Pakistan (FAP).

Referring to the 'confusion' among the policymakers, he says a meagre sum of Rs12bn has been apportioned for constructing dams while Rs100bn has been earmarked for command area development. 'How can one construct a canal without having water to release into it?'

The absence of vision indicates the confusion of policymakers

To overcome canal water scarcity, cultivators turn to subsoil water resources but either electricity is unavailable or it is too costly while running water pumps on diesel is also not affordable. Mr Rehman is perturbed that no clear steps have been announced to resolve these issues rather the Rs750bn petroleum levy is a hint that oil prices are set to go further up.

Regarding the 150 per cent hike in subsidy for fertiliser plants, he says the primary question is the...