The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday highlighted the importance of adopting modern farming techniques to shift focus from the conventional agriculture methodology. "Emphasis should be given to increase agriculture exports which could be done by developing more varieties of agriculture produce through research," ICCI President Mahfooz Elahi said while addressing a meeting of the representatives of agro business.
He said Pakistan was having vast areas of cultivated land, however, due to conventional way of farming and lack of know-how of modern technology and sowing methods, it was unable to increase its per yield production, which he said was also the lowest in the region.
He was of the view that modernisation and diversification of crops was very much needed in this sector to get optimum results and increase exports. He stressed the need for developing new varieties of seeds, adding that agriculture research institutes must provide guidance to the farmer for cultivating crops that might attract foreign market.
Elahi said that demand of organic food was increasing world-wide; therefore, Pakistan can fetch a good market giving more attention to organic agriculture. International agriculture experts must be invited to find ways and means for increasing per yield production and developing new varieties for fruits and vegetables.
ICCI President said that agriculture research institutes should also introduce techniques to farmers for increasing shelf life of perishable items because currently a large portion of vegetables and fruits are wasted due to unavailability of preservation methodology.
He said that for maintaining consistent production, adequate supply of water must be ensured and proposed for using solar water pumps at tube wells. "The production of crops is also hurt because of load shedding plans thus use of solar water pumps can help resolve problems," he remarked.