Growth in agriculture sector and future plans ahead.

Realising the potential of agriculture and taking cognizance of the issues related to agriculture sector, the present Government of Pakistan has launched the Prime Minister Agriculture emergency programme worth Rs 277 billion to revolutionize the agriculture and livestock sectors. The objectives of the programme include improvements in water availability, soil conservation and shrimp farming. In addition, the programme also includes organizing new agriculture markets which will protect farmers from the exploitation of middlemen. The programme's vision is 'food secure Pakistan', based on modern and efficient food production and distribution systems, can best contribute towards global stability and peace. The recent pandemic COVID-19 poses extraordinary challenges for almost all sectors of the economy of Pakistan. The need for maintaining food security and livelihoods has also gained more importance. The cereal markets are predicted to remain balanced and comfortable despite uncertainties over the impact of COVID-19.

As logistical challenges may pose issues to food supply it is significant to take measures for growing agriculture production which will contribute in mitigating the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. No doubt, Pakistan is a leading country in the production of wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, lentils, mangoes and milk and fourth largest producer of milk. Presently Pakistan-China agriculture cooperation is vital and would strengthen the economy of Pakistan. Statistics showed that agriculture contributes greater than 80 percent to Pakistan's GDP and offers greater than 30 percent of the national labour force.

Production of quality seeds, the productivity of many crops strengthening an agro-based industry to bring in value addition, manufacturing pesticides, and setting up gold chain networks were discussed between these two countries.

It is said that recently China has adopted its 14th five-year plan for 2021 to 2025 in which the field of modern agriculture has given high value. It is also believed that Pakistan can make optimum use of China's past achievements and its future agricultural development schemes to address its weakness and consolidate its strength in this sector. China's unprecedented success in combating poverty and bringing greater than 800 million people out of poverty is indeed a miracle of recent times, assisting communities to enhance livelihood by developing their domestic agricultural products. The experts...