Farmers Top Government Priority: PM Directs Formulation of Strategy to Boost Agricultural Exports

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared farmers’ welfare as the government’s top priority and directed authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy to increase agricultural exports and align the sector with international standards.

Chairing a meeting of a private-sector experts’ working group formed to enhance agricultural exports, the prime minister emphasized that reforming the agricultural sector and introducing farmers to globally adopted modern practices are among the government’s foremost objectives. He said the federal government, within its mandate, is undertaking reforms in agriculture while also working closely with provincial governments to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.

The prime minister highlighted that measures are being taken to increase per-acre yield by ensuring the provision of quality seeds, timely availability of fertilizers at reasonable prices, and effective medicines to prevent crop diseases. He added that policy-level initiatives are underway to promote value addition through the processing of agricultural commodities to produce export-oriented goods.

Shehbaz Sharif informed the meeting that recently 1,000 Pakistani male and female students were sent to China at government expense to receive training in modern agricultural technologies. He noted that Pakistan has immense potential in agriculture and that investments are being made in research, within available resources, to enhance productivity per acre.

The prime minister also directed the formulation of measures to increase exports of fisheries, fruits, and value-added fruit products, develop policy initiatives for palm oil production along the coastal belt, and prepare a comprehensive roadmap to significantly boost agricultural exports over the next five years.

During the meeting, Working Group Chairman Rana Naseem and his team presented a detailed report on the agricultural sector, outlining existing challenges and proposing a future course of action. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr. Musadik Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and senior officials attended the meeting.

Participants were briefed on major Rabi and Kharif crops, their per-acre average yields, horticulture and fruit production and exports, livestock and dairy sectors, and a comparative regional and global analysis of agriculture-related sectors. It was shared that under a short-term reform framework, Pakistan’s current average per-acre yield would be enhanced using existing resources through the provision of quality seeds, supportive policies, effective extension services in collaboration with provincial governments, and the adoption of modern farming techniques.

The meeting was also informed that the federal government is working on a certification regime for the processing of agricultural commodities, which will help increase the value of farm produce and processed products in international markets, ultimately improving farmers’ incomes. Additionally, a comprehensive reform plan for research institutions was presented, aimed at boosting yields of existing crops and encouraging the cultivation of new, climate- and soil-suitable high-value crops.

Appreciating the detailed briefing, the prime minister directed the working group to prepare a practical, effective, and comprehensive roadmap and include its recommendations in the government’s reform agenda.