Prime Minister
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was briefed on agriculture sector here at PM Office
today.
Minister for National Food Security
and Research, Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan and senior officials of the
ministry briefed the Prime Minister regarding overall outlook of the sector,
achievements of the ministry and challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
The Prime Minister was briefed that presently the agriculture sector is
contributing 19.5% to the GDP of the country and around 42% labor force is
employed in the sector. Agriculture in the country provides 57.5% share in the
total exports and growth rate of the sector remained 3.46% in FY 2016-17.
The Prime Minister stated that
agriculture being the mainstay of our economy, the government aims at
sustainable growth of the sector. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of
National Food Security & Research to work on a policy framework for putting
in place optimal methods for ensuring food security in the country. The Prime
Minter also directed the Ministry to bring the issue of current low investment
in the sector as compared to the pre-devolution scenario before the CCI so as
to ensure allocation of greater resources to the sector by Provincial
governments as well as the Federal Government.
Proposals to increase productivity
and crop diversification, keeping in view the local demands and meeting various
other challenges including climate change should also be part of the framework
alongwith promotion of Research and Development functions of various various
organisations of the Ministry in line with international best practices. As a
bottom line, the State must ensure a fair return to farmers for their efforts
by adopting sustainable policy framework.
The Prime Minister stated that small
farmers should be the focus of our agriculture policy so as to provide maximum
facilitation.
