FAISALABAD, January 27: New techniques and technologies at the grassroots level are imperative to improve crop and livestock yields. Addressing a meeting of agricultural scientists at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) here today, he said Pakistan is a predominantly an agrarian economy. Of the 196 million acres of total land, 50 million acres is cultivated land of which 37% is used for wheat production. We grow five major crops including wheat, cotton, rice, maize, and sugarcane but we do not add much value in these commodities. Therefore, our scientists must focus on technologies that will help add value and enhance income of farmers and play a major role in lowering rural poverty.
He said that last year we produced 7 million bales of cotton but this year we are expecting 9 million bales. Due to additional 2 million bales, we will add Rs.200 billion additional income in our agriculture sector.
He said that textile had a loin share in our overall exports. We are planning to enhance our exports up to $30 billion out of which the textile share will be 60%. He explained that government was incentivizing cotton growers and for the first time in the last 8 years, intervention price of cotton was fixed at Rs.5,000 per 40 kg which helped stabilise the seed-cotton markets and increase farmer profits.
He said that government was also trying to enhance production of soyabean for which development of new technology was imperative.
He explained that outcome of agricultural research must be passed to farmers as it would not only enhance per acre yield but also reduce the production cost.
He urged scientists to develop varieties suitable for different ecological zones in order to optimize crop yield.-PR
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