ISLAMABAD: The ministry of planning and development has geared up efforts to implement projects related to the agricultural sector for which billions of rupees were allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2023-24 to tap the huge potentials of the sector.

The agriculture sector is already on the top priority list of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in view of its importance in the country’s economy.

The SIFC was established earlier this year to attract foreign and local investment while targeting five key areas: agriculture, defence production, mining/minerals, information technology and telecommunication and energy.

While gearing up efforts, the planning ministry has asked relevant departments to accelerate the implementation on projects so that they could be completed on time.

Investment in farming sector ‘top priority’ of SIFC

The SIFC has taken the lead and the agriculture is the top priority besides other sectors, said a press release of the ministry issued on Sunday.

The projects on which the planning commission has decided to gear up efforts, include cage culture cluster development project; commercialisation of potato tissue culture technology; and establishment of consumer-sourcing seed authenticity system and strengthening of labs of federal seed certification and research and development etc.

Besides, the Prime Minister’s Initiatives for Green Revolution project worth Rs5000 million is also a landmark project initiated to address key constraints to productivity of agriculture.

The government has emphasised on promotion of technology to reduce post-harvest losses, value addition for grain, fruits and vegetables, productivity enhancement of major crops, engage women and youth in agriprenure, agri-business and to promote and support agricultural research.

The green revolution played a key role in the country’s economy back in 1960s while saving millions of people from famine. This initiative will contribute greatly to the national economy, the ministry said.

Pakistan’s potential to export food products is limited due to strict international standards. Keeping in view the significance of fruits and vegetables a horticulture support programme is another project which is being started with Rs1000m to address key constraints to horticulture crops.

The project has been designed to reduce on-field and post-harvest losses of selected fruits and vegetables and to integrate and strengthen horticultural value chains by introducing value-adding technologies at every step of the value chain through public-private partnerships.

Another project, the Prime Minister’s National Programe for Solarisation of Agricultural Tube wells in Pakistan worth Rs377,017m is being launched to switch 100,000 tube-wells of the country to solar system in three years in the country.

Furthermore, the government has established a Land Information and Management System Center of Excellence (LIMS-CoE) to improve modern agri-farming by utilising more than 9m hectares of uncultivated state land.

The main goals of the centre included consolidation and reclamation of uncultivated wasteland, optimal decision-making regarding what and where to grow, creation of a master plan for modern farming, adoption of state-of-the-art agriculture management practices, the practice of agri-intelligence for digital and precision agriculture, better utilisation of cutting-edge technology to enhance yield, and effective decision support system.

The GIS-based LIMS will greatly improve the national agri-yield by systemising the digitisation of agriculture, providing real-time information to local farmers about soil, crops, weather, water resources and pest monitoring through remote sensing and geospatial technologies as well as minimising the role of middlemen through the efficient marketing system.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2023