Agriculture sector share in GDP declines drastically

Despite manifold increase in the volume of major crops' production, the share of agriculture sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined from 60 percent in 1950 to around 22 percent in year 2010. On the other side, the contribution of manufacturing and services sectors to GDP and employment registered a sharp rise.
This was revealed at the concluding ceremony of international conference titled "Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture" arranged by International Centre for Development and Decent Work, University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation.
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad (PARC) Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad was the chief guest while Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan and German Scientist Dr Andreas Buerkert were the guests of honour. PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad stressed the need to expedite efforts on persuading the farming community about adopting modern technology and researches in order to boost up per acre production.
He told the audience that around 80 percent of farming community consists of small farmer so a comprehensive plan should be devised for addressing the problem in a bid to strengthening small farmers in particular and the agriculture sector in general.
Our linkages with the farming community are weak causing low production, he said, adding we should get benefit from the emerging economy of that country that is having similar circumstances, environment like Pakistan. He quoted the example of Brazil Rural Development Programme in this regard which he said brought the tangible results for the uplifting of rural areas. He also called for transferring the certified citrus seed to the field for the promoting of citrus sector. He said that UAF is the hub about the knowledge and researches in the field of agriculture especially citrus.
MPA Muhammad Afzal stressed the need to pushing the industry out of cities as the waste of the industry is playing havoc with the inhabitants and playing havoc with the health of the people. He lauded the steps taken by the government for the development of the rural sector but he said that there are large areas on which we have to work so that intensified migration to the cities can be narrowed. He also said that the increasing growth of population is also a challenge for the country as the population of the country has soared to 177 million against the total population of 33 million at the time of partition.
Professor Dr Andreas Buerkert from Germany briefing the audience ICDD said that it is a global think-tank network working on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. He said urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) can make an important contribution to supplying food and income opportunities to the rapidly growing urban populations of developing countries.
He also stressed the need to put the industry out of the cities for providing healthy environment and free from contaminated water to the locals that will bring fruitful results. The opening session of the conference was held on 19 and was chaired by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Dr Ansar Pervez while PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad presided over concluding session. Later, PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad presided over Citrus Stakeholders Workshop that was opened at syndicate room, UAF.