Employment generation is the most important indicator of development in any country. More the number of unemployed more will be the burden on economy as these are fed by the employed.
Joblessness cannot be eliminated absolutely but its extent can be reduced. Education, freedom to work and job opportunities help in poverty reduction. Literacy is the most important factor in employment generation.
Inefficient human capital creates obstacles. More training and education is required for the production of human capital. Nearly 65 per cent of our population resides in rural areas, with little understanding about the importance of education.
They have land but without the wisdom to engage in market-oriented activities. As agriculture is an activity with diminishing returns therefore, these farmers have no motivations and incentives to work hard.
Cash crops and other high valuable horticultural crops, having a relatively inelastic market demand, can be grown for profits. The available resources can be used by making the activities a business. There is a margin for improvement due to enough labour, fertile lands with access to water.
Growing of high value cash crops on big scale will not only conserve the resources but will also make our farmers prosperous. Thus, resource conservation will also give rise to more productivity and growth which will ultimately result in employment generation.
Horticultural crops: Horticultural crops are useful tools against environmental pollution. These are mostly high value cash crops and usually grown near the cities. Being perishables, these are required to be disposed off or processed, immediately.
They carry high profit margin if marketed properly. High value crops include off season fruits, vegetables and flowers. These cannot be grown in water logged soils. If grown on suitable soils keeping in mind climatic factors these can bring in good profits. For example, mango in cotton belt, citrus in mixed cropping zones and bananas in temperate areas perform well.
Cultivation techniques: Most cultivation technologies applied cannot be used without proper training but some are common and easy like the tunnel technology for off season vegetables.
The crop grown by this method becomes ready for marketing soon. It consumes less water and fertilizers. If infrastructure is available then these tunnels can be developed in areas away from the cities. Other horticultural technologies may include extraction of the essences from the flowers, hot water treatment plants for fruits and tissue culture.
Employment generation: Employment may be generated by promoting the cultivation of these crops which have great demand in the domestic and as well as in international markets.
Fruit gardening: Fruit gardens have great scope. In big orchards these generate seasonal employment. Picking, packaging, transportation and processing play a major role.
International quality standards can enhance the manufacturing of the processed products like jams, ketchups, juices, pickles and others. Pakistan has a comparative advantage for dates, citrus, mangoes and oranges, with guava and cherry if production and quality are enhanced.
Vegetables farming: Vegetables go for marketing soon as these are highly perishable items. Vegetable processing is not common here. If cultivated out of season the vegetables can be more profitable.
These are more profitable if grown near the urban areas as it will reduce the transportation cost. Sewerage water can be utilized for cultivation. This waste water contains nutrients which can work as the farmyard manure thus reducing fertilizer cost and help in maintaining the soil fertility. Sufficient knowledge is required for its use. Industrial waste water requires treatment before application.
FLORICULTURE AND ITS BENEFITS: Floriculture earns huge profits and is also beneficial for environment. Uncultivable land because of improper topography or other factors can be undertaken for cultivation of flowers. Range lands can be used for the purpose as is done in Europe.
Proper landscape can be beneficial for recreation while the cut flower industry can help the country earn foreign exchange. Flower extracts are a valuable source as these are used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and other such industries.
