PM Shehbaz orders comprehensive national agriculture policy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed the government to formulate a comprehensive National Agriculture Policy in consultation with the provinces and establish an apex forum to oversee agricultural reforms and drive sustainable growth in the sector.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the restructuring of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and reforms in the agriculture sector, the prime minister said the proposed forum would meet every month to ensure the effective implementation of the Agriculture Innovation and Growth Plan, the PM Office said.

He also directed the authorities to launch a nationwide awareness campaign for the Zarkhez-e agricultural loan programme to improve farmers’ access to concessional financing.

Calling agriculture the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, Shehbaz said the sector had immense potential to put the country on a path of sustainable economic growth. He stressed the need to improve per-acre crop yields through the provision of quality seeds, modern farming technologies, and the timely availability of water and fertilisers.

The prime minister also called for greater focus on value addition, warehousing and modern storage systems for agricultural produce, while directing the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) to evolve into a premier centre for agricultural research.

During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on ongoing reforms, including pilot production of multigrain flour by the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based application to help farmers detect crop diseases and pests, and measures to expand access to agricultural financing through the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited.

The meeting was also informed that the National Seed Policy and National Agriculture Biotechnology Policy had recently been approved, while consultations on the Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy had been completed and the policy would soon be submitted for approval. Work on a national wheat policy and several livestock-related policies is also under way.