Agriculture and Its Problems in Pakistan

Commercial Geography

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Agriculture and Its Problems in Pakistan





Introduction



From time Immemorial,agriculture has been the major occupation of the
people of Pakistan.Even today agriculture is a major sector and
occupies a very important place in the economy of Pakistan.It not only
provides food for our growing population but is a source of raw
materials for our principal industries as well as a source of foreign
exchange for our government.

32% of our gross domestic products belong to this sector.It engages 53%
of our employed labour .About 75% of our people are engaged directly
or indirectly with this profession.A large part (about 10%) of
Pakistan's exports is made up of primary commodities ,including the
major cash crops.In addition to this major large scale industries like
cotton textile and sugar etc.as well as medium and small scale
agro-based and cottage industries are directly dependent on this sector
for their raw materials.





Problems



Following are the causes of our backwardness in agriculture:

1.Lack of Education



The farmers of our country are mostly un-educated and lack technical
knowledge .They are unable to unde4rstand the modern scientific methods
of agriculture and often remain ignorant of good means to protect and
increase their yield.Their production is therefore low.

2.Lack of Capital



The majority of our farmers are poor and they often live in a hand to
mouth position.Most of them are always under heavy burdens of debts.So
due to lack of capital they cannot afford to purchase modern scientific
implements,chemical manures,improved types of seeds etc.Hence they can
not attain the required standards.

3.Following the Old Traditions



Most of our farmers are still stuck to the old traditions of their
fore fathers.The circumstances have compelled them to use the crude
implements,because due to small holdings of land and poverty they are
unable to acquire and use modern scientific methods.That is why their
standard is lower than that of cultivators in developed countries.

4.Water-logging and Salinity



Due to excessive use of canal water,most of our cultivated lands have
become victims of these two dangerous diseases.Every year ,salinity
alone,is turning about 1,00,000 acres of arable land into marches and
salt lands.Water-logging is no less injurious.On the other hand the
measures taken so far are quite inadequate for such issues.

5.Uneconomical Land Holdings



Due to our law of inheritance,our farmers command very small pieces of
hands which prove to be costly.A farmer cannot afford tractors and
other machineries for a small piece of land and those his income is
low.Hence his interest is converted to some other sector.

6.Scarcity of Water



Our farmers have to face many problems due to scarcity of water which
is one our major problems.Large tracts of land estimated to be about 22
million acres is lying uncultivated due to shortage of water.Rainfall
is uncertain and the existing irrigational facilities in our country are
quite insufficient and need to be extended.

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7.Land Tenure System



The land tenure system of Pakistan has creates a chain of
intermediatries in between the state and the tenants.The system,instead
of being conductive to agricultural development ,stands in the way of
its progress.

8.Soil Erosion



In some areas of our country,especially in hilly regions,the upper
fertile soil is being eroded by different natural agents of change .Thus
the fertility is poor and soils are becoming less productive.

9.Lack of Organized Marketing



The marketing facilities for agricultural products in Pakistan are
still far from satisfactory level.Our cultivators can not get just
prices for their produce due to defective marketing organization.
Moreover the chain of middlemen between the producers and ultimate
consumers take a heavy share of their produce .Thus the cultivators do
not take much real interest in increasing their product too.

10.Pests and Crop Diseases



Due to lack of agricultural education and methods of modern
research,our farmers cannot control the various diseases of crops and
attacks of pests and insects.The result is low yields.

11.Poor Means of Transportation



The agricultural activities in our country are performed in rural
areas,but most of our villages have no road or railway links with our
markets.So farmers have to face innumerable hardships to sell their
products.Hence the farmers take very little interest in their profession
and production suffers.

12.Lack of Credit Facilities



The resources required for agricultural operation are land,layout,live
stock,farm equipment, seeds,fertilizers,irrigation,transport etc.For
the convenient and timely procurement of these resources the farmers
must have easy access to credit.The A.D.B.P and commercial banks
provide loans to the farmers which are insufficient because our farmers
are very poor.

13.Low Yield Per Acre



Due to the above mentioned facts ,it is clear that the yield per acre
of various crops in our country is comparatively low than of the other
countries.Hence we are backward agriculturally.





Suggestions Or Remedies To Overcome The Problems



1.Reclamation of Land



The land which has been declared useless due to salinity and
water-logging should be reclaimed.Tube-wells should be installed in the
affected areas to decrease the salinity.Beds of new canals should be
made of concrete to avoid water-logging.These measures should be taken
on priority basis to avoid further deterioration of land .

2.Irrigation Facilities



The major problem of agriculture in Pakistan is scarcity of water.Most
of the land is lying unused due to this problem.Therefore,it is
necessary that the irrigation facilities be extended for increasing
agricultural out put.

3.The Use Of Fertilizers



The agricultural yield can also be increased to a great extent by
using fertilizers.The use of artificial manure should be introduced
through out the country.Due to poverty and illiteracy our farmers
hesitate to purchase the fertilizers.

4.Credit Facilities



The use of better seeds,fertilizers and modern implements is not
possible without adequate credit facilities for the farmers.The
government has extended the existing credit facilities to a large
extent. The commercial banks also grant loans to the farmers,but still
there is a need for more facilities as our farmers are very poor.

5.Better Seeds



The farmers should be provided better quality seeds at the lowest
price and at the right time.Better seeds will ultimately give better
yield.

6.Plant Protection



Various plant diseases damage a large part of our crops.But our
farmers have no effective control over them.Therefore,preventive and
neurative measures should be taken throughout the country.

7.Mechanization



Mechanization of agriculture refers to the use of various equipments
the different stages of cultivation.By the use of modern equipments
better results can be achieved in the shortest time.

8.Co-operative Farming



Co-operative farming refers to the farming done on the basis of mutual
help and co-operation.Under this method the small holdings are
consqildated .In this way the owners of small holdings can also use
fertilizers and modern equipments jointly.After harvesting,the yield can
be distributed among the owners according to their ownership.

9.Education Level



Increase of literacy ratio in rural areas especially in agre-education
is the need of the day.The more educated the farmers will be the
better will be the results achieved.

10.Marketing Facilities



Marketing procedures should be simplified and various marketing facilities should be provided to the cultivators.

11.Improvement In The Means Of transportation And Communication



The rural areas of the country must be provided with road and railway
links with marketing centres and better means of transport and
communication should be provided.