Contribution of agriculture sector to Pakistan economy
June 03, 2013
Mrs. Roohi Raees Khan, Chief Operating Officer at Zarai Taraqiati Bank was the distinguished guest speaker at Lahore School of Economics on May 20, 2013.
Mrs. Khan started with presenting the facts and figures regarding contribution of agriculture sector to the Pakistan economy. Agriculture contributes 21% to the total GDP of Pakistan and 62% of total population resides in agriculture sector. It provides employment to 25% of total population of our country.
Ms. Khan explained the challenges faced by farmers and different ways to address those problems (lack of soil testing at farms, non availability and poor quality of fertilizers, wastage during harvesting and lack of warehouses, machinery and equipment). She suggested that implementing cooperative farming, practicing tunnel farming and proper water management by providing sprinkler irrigation system could result in high production.
The guest emphasized that instead of importing food items, we should generate ideas to enhance agriculture output in our own country. She encouraged the students again and again to think about the policy intervention that could be done by the government for the improvement of this sector. She also talked about Awami Zarai Scheme by ZTBL which provided loans and arranged the inputs (seeds, fertilizers, machinery etc.) for the farmers at regulated prices, but since the loans were not properly utilized, the scheme failed to generate results. Agriculture is the nucleus of all economic activities and private and public sectors should work together for the improvement of this sector.
The guest shared with the students that migration of most of our rural population to the urban areas had resulted in labor shortage for harvesting the crops in villages. She told the students that agri-business on peri urban areas was very important. She stressed on the need of policy intervention at the higher level in her speech and presentation. At the end the guest speaker showed a presentation based on different ideas for improvement in the agricultural sector. The presentation showed laser leveling, rain gun sprinkler system and tunnel farming.
Labels: Guest Speaker
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 6/03/2013 09:00:00 AM,
City Campus
104 - C, Gulberg III,
Lahore, Pakistan.
Phones: 92-42-35714936, 38474385
Fax: 92-42-36560905
Main Campus
Intersection Main Boulevard Phase VI
Burki Road
Lahore, Pakistan.
Phones: 36560935, 36560939
