MORE than 50 per cent of the population of Pakistan practices agriculture. Due to the lack of administrative vigilance it is facing problems, which if not properly tackled, may cause great harm to the economy.

Agriculture being a predominant sector accounts for almost one-fourth of the GDP by employing about 46 per cent of the labour force. Around two-third of the population resides in rural areas, where the major source of earning is the agriculture produce.

It is a source of foreign exchange earnings also, as about 80 per cent of the country’s exports are agro-based and most important among which is cotton. Cotton and its products account for 60 per cent of the total exports, therefore, it is necessary to overcome the difficulties to become self-sufficient in the production of this crops.

The country spends a huge portion of its budget on the import of agricultural commodities. Its importance has failed to highlight the predominant role agriculture plays in the masses. Today, roughly about 30 per cent of the population lacks adequate income to purchase food, which is evident by the widespread malnutrition.

As regards human development, the country lags behind even some of its neighbours in terms of education, nutrition, health and sanitation.

Among the 174 nations covered by the Human Development Index (HDI) survey, Pakistan ranked 138. What then is the reason that Pakistan, though being an agricultural country, is unable to satisfy the food requirements of its masses? Following are the reasons and suggestion to increase the production.

Students are unwilling to enter the agricultural institutions, either due to administrative problems or unemployment. They are not educated in this field at higher secondary school level coupled with the other factors contributing to the irritation and unwillingness of the students. Academic standards need to be improved and maintained in order to evaluate the significance of this sector.

Better and contemporary knowledge will enable the students to conduct their research in a better environment and by doing so many existing problems can be removed. There will be a loss of manpower and millions of rupees if the graduates in this field are not employed to carry out their research work.

Agriculture, during the last decade of the 20th century, has been considerably mechanized with the help of imports of machinery (which Pakistan is supposed to manufacture on its own). contribute to these losses. Currently 80 per cent of the cultivated area is irrigated. Many regions are arid and rain-fed where irrigation is not possible due to the unavailability of water. Even in irrigated lands, sufficient supply of water is not always guaranteed due to various problems. New irrigation techniques and machinery should be installed so as to increase the supply of water, which will in turn increase the yield.

One of the major problems of low yield is directly associated with the land tenure system. Feudalism, land ownership and peasant-proprietor relationships have greatly weakened the agriculture.

Farmers do not have their own lands and have to work in the fields of landlords. At certain times, fraternal relations are not developed due to the inputs and outputs of land and hence the yield is badly affected.

To avoid such losses cordial owner- tenant relations should be developed. The farmers cannot afford inputs, tools for farming and other requirements for production even if they have their own lands.

The potential is present but not properly utilized. Loan facilities and credit should be made easier. The state should control the price of inputs, mechanical tools and other necessities so that farmers can benefit the most from it.

If proper care is given to agriculture, Pakistan will become self-sufficient in the basic crop requirements and will manage to eradicate poverty, disease and malnutrition, leading to prosperity.

This being the backbone, will strengthen the economy by reducing the import of agricultural commodities, which will eventually make sustainable agriculture in Pakistan.