Research, technology can boost Pakistan's agriculture sector: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the inclusion of research and technology can help boost Pakistan’s agriculture sector, adding that the country’s more than eight million farmers are its biggest asset.

Addressing a farmers' convention at the Islamia University Bahawalpur’s Baghdadul Jadid campus, the premier noted that his government is not only helping farmers but also trying to facilitate them through research and guidance on seed development.

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Talking about income inequality, PM Khan said that no one in the past thought about the farmers. “Industrialists and big interests ignored the farmers and made financial gains by taking advantage of them,” he noted.

Giving the example of sugar mills, he said that the government is making efforts to ensure that farmers get “full payment and that too without unnecessary delays.”

“Our vision is to double the farmer’s income as it will directly help Pakistan by reducing poverty,” he stated.

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Talking about the rapid rise in Pakistan’s population, the premier said that we have to increase our agricultural output which can only happen if we support the farming sector. “Research and science in the agriculture sector can take us forward,” he said.

Earlier this month, the premier had stated that food security would be a major challenge for the country in coming years, adding that the government has decided to equip farmers with seeds, research-based information and the use of technology to increase production.

“We have to decide now about the measures to be taken to ensure food security as well as making Pakistan a food exporting country,” he added.

The premier noted that Pakistan cannot progress economically unless we facilitate low-income families and poor segments of society. “A country cannot progress if you have a sea of poor people and only a small segment of rich people.”

Citing China's example, Prime Minister Imran said the country developed because it managed to raise millions of people out of poverty and supported its farming communities.

He reiterated that the government will do everything it can to help farmers. "We want to keep our farmers’ wealthy,” he said adding that “new agricultural methods and technology can help increase farmers' success and productivity.”

Last year, the government approved a Rs56.6 billion agriculture relief package for farmers to offer them subsidies on fertilizers, cottonseed and pesticides amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the package, the government offered a Rs37 billion subsidy to farmers on the purchase of fertilizers.

The relief package was part of the Rs100 billion out of Rs1200 billion coronavirus relief package which the government announced for small and medium businesses and the agriculture sector.