Various parts of Punjab: NA body asks ministry, NARC to save 'dying' corn crop

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Thursday directed the concerned ministry and National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) to take necessary measures to rescue the dying crop of corn in various parts of Punjab. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, was of the view if timely assistance is not provided to the farmers, the country would be in shortage of corn.
The committee after detailed discussion and hearing the points of view of the ministry and the mover of "The Chamber of Agriculture Bill, 2019" decided to constitute a 4-member sub-committee under the convenership of MNA Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf to discuss and submit its report to the standing committee within 30 days. The bill was moved by MNA Riaz Fatyana.
The committee pointed out that reportedly 10,000 acres of corn crop have been destroyed due to thunderstorm and other reasons. The committee also directed NARC to collect samples of potatoes from all the potato growing areas and conduct immediate study to control the scab disease. The committee desired NARC to give a presentation on the developed new seeds of the crops and introduction of genetically modified seeds in the country.
The panel also directed the Ministry of National food Security & Research to take immediate measures for modernisation of the agriculture sector to enhance the per acre yield. The ministry officials while briefing the panel said that the government has already proposed three research and development projects in the budget of next financial year 2019-20 in this regard. The officials apprised the committee that Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a knowledge creation exercise for the purpose of report publication in 2018 for "Punjab Basmati Rice Value Chain Analysis" and currently, ADB is working on "Punjab Sustained Agriculture Growth through Enhanced Agriculture Management" by means of a technical assistance (TA). The TA would result in a loan in the coming years amounting to US $100 million.
He further stated that World Bank is funding various agriculture projects in Punjab, Sindh and KPK. The meeting recommended to Ministry of National Food Security & Research and PARC for preparing a comprehensive presentation along with their recommendations for improvement of research and development in agriculture sector.
The committee while discussing implementation status of its previous recommendations directed that ZTBL may relocate its existing branches in district Ranjanpur for convenience of the general public. The panel expressed sadness over the heavy losses inflicted upon farmers by the recent spell of rains and hailstorms and assured that it would personally request the Prime Minister to compensate the farmers for the losses incurred.
The members raised questions about soil health, minimum support price for major crops, insurance schemes, agriculture zoning, access to finances and information, drought resistant crops, climate adaptations and crop diversification.
The officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research highlighted that National Agriculture Emergency Program worth Rs 287 billion based on comprehensive national consultation will deliver a breakthrough in agriculture and turn around the direction of the agriculture.
It was stated that Pakistan's agriculture growth is stagnant as a result of decline in spending on research and development, and investment. The committee was informed that the after the 18th amendment, the budget allocation for agriculture has witnessed a 60 percent decline.
The meeting was attended by Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, MNAs Shaukat Ali, Ahmed Hussain Deharr, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Dr Nausheen Hamid, Ahmad Raza Maneka, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Chaudhry Faqir Ahmad, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi, Kamal Uddin, and Riaz Fatyana, secretary M/o National Food Security and Research and senior officers of the concerned departments.