AGRICULTURE is a source of subsistence to approximately one hundred million Pakistanis residing in rural areas and is also a livelihood to a fairly large population in urban areas.

The export of agricultural commodities and products based on them accounts for more than 80 per cent foreign exchange earning, but unfortunately its role has been overlooked.

The world economy which was already in recession further slipped down after September 11 episode. As a consequence most multinationals either have laid-off some of its workforce or to some extent are closing down their businesses. The Pakistan economy has felt grave jolts of the turmoil. The country’s exports have been hampered by $2-3 billion, which is a big shock to the deteriorating economy.

There has been a general reduction in exports but the raw cotton export fell by 99 per cent by November. Though Pakistani cotton is famous for strength and lustre but is facing tough competition on account of higher production cost. Now the quality is bound to suffer because of the increased incidence of bollworms and white fly. To compete in the international market government needs to give subsidy to cotton growers or train people to lower production cost by decreasing the number of sprays which are on the increase due to imbalance amongst the predators and the insects. There are however, specific insecticides for certain insects. The insecticides too, are changing every year adding confusion. Experience shows that the solution of detergent and edible oil in water can equally control all the sucking insects without polluting the environment and creating resistance to the insecticides. The other main factor is the long duration of cotton crop, which can be reduced to lessen the management cost.

Pakistan ought to take lessons from the non-cotton producers such as Bangladesh, Thailand, Korea, Japan and Indonesia, who earn more through value-addition by manufacturing cotton fabrics and garments. Indonesia has emerged as a leading consumer, equal to around three million Pakistani bales.

The data depicted in clearly indicates that the quantum of increase in yields over the past two decades has been deplorable. The yield increased to 170-index level from 100, considering all the crops, whereas, exclusively for food crops it was even much lesser touching only 158. It had been appreciable to a certain degree for cotton yields despite leaf-curl-virus and a host of harmful insects.

According to data in the consumption of fertilizer in Punjab rose from 0.543 million metric tonnes to 1.5m metric tonnes of nitrogenous and 1,50,000 to 4,16,000 metric tonnes of phosphate in a period of 20 years.

There has also been substantial increase in the use of pesticides not only in volume but also in value. Its use increased by 70 times within 17 years. In recent years its value might have gone around Rs12-14 billion. The increase in the use of pesticide has not increased the cotton production but has aggravated the insect situation through indiscriminate and reckless sprays. Furthermore, pesticide companies may be asked to establish formulation plants as they are doing in India since long. It may be pointed out that 80 per cent of pesticide is used on cotton and the rest on rice, vegetables and fruits.

The progress in the yield of major crops was very slow rather it stagnated despite a substantial increase in the use of both fertilizers and pesticides. Hence, it may be concluded that there are number of known and unknown factors limiting the yield increase. It may be fertilizer imbalance or their untimely use or deficiency of micronutrients like boron, zinc, iron, copper or some other element and may be the dearth of organic matter.

The indiscriminate use of pesticides affects environment, flora and fauna. It is possible that these might have been ineffective against certain insects or may have been used at improper time. The reckless and unmethodical sprays have led to mass killing of predators and parasites. It is also possible that the majority of growers were unable to purchase proper input at the right time.

The intensity of weeds has increased, thus competing with crops for nutrients, water and sunlight. The weeds have great edge over domesticated plants by virtue of their adaptation to the environment. There is a possibility that the package of technology is not reaching the farming community. It is therefore, necessary to infuse more resources to double the yield of conventional crops in no more than five years, and also increase the area, yield and production of non-conventional crops like flowers, fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry products. The export of such commodities can fetch more foreign exchange.

For poverty alleviation a large segment of labour force can gainfully be absorbed in agriculture sector. There are always huge allocations in each annual development programme along with many foreign agencies and countries funnelling enormous amounts for it. Despite all this, the poverty monster has swollen. It is gaining momentum with the passage of time and is the root cause of all social evils and unrest. Dynamic socio-economic changes with persistent future security embedded with reward to hard working honest workers and impartial accountability shall lead to poverty alleviation.

Since we are facing an uphill task to market cotton and its products therefore, we may not put all the eggs in the exclusive basket of cotton economy, nevertheless broaden the horizons of agricultural sector by diverting our efforts to produce highly expensive crops such as flowers, fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry products.

Flowers are in great demand in Europe and America on Christmas and New Year, when they are under the blanket of snow. By adopting such alternates we can improve the economic conditions and earn more foreign exchange. At the same time we shall have to step up the production of conventional crops, like wheat, cotton, rice and sugarcane through research. Lastly, a stable marketing system is urgently needed so that the middleman does not rob the growers and the consumers.