STAFF REPORT ISB: FPCCI Chairman Ahmad Jawad has said that robust agricultural growth and productivity increase are decisive to sustained economic development in the country.
However, despite this fact, many policy makers, policy analysts and some academicians are of the view that there is little need to invest in agriculture.
Strong public institutions, better research and policies that explore the potential of ignored commodities such as dairy products and horticulture could help improve Pakistans agriculture growth, he said while addressing the agri entrepreneurs.
He was of the view that public sector institutions must take the responsibility. “Rapid agricultural growth requires high quality public institutions,” he said.
“The private sector can supplement and support at certain level, but when you talk about national coverage for 3 million small commercial farmers, you need a strong public sector,” he maintained.
He said that US farmers change the wheat and maize varieties they use almost every three years because of extensive research on crop yields and better seed varieties. “But similar research institutions are almost absent in Pakistan.”
Pakistans policymakers need to target the small commercial farmers in order to increase agricultural output.