BEING an agrarian economy, Pakistan has one of the world’s best food baskets that provides a variety of crops to feed 250 million people. The sector is a source of raw material as well. However, it has suffered a lot due to the climate change phenomenon. The national economy is struggling because of low crop yield owing to floods, heatwaves and unpredictable weather conditions. The sector is also facing energy problems and the presence of toxic chemicals and pesticides. All this calls for the declaration of an agricultural emergency in the country.

The unabated spells of abrupt and extreme heatwaves, with temperatures often soaring to 48 degrees Celsius, have significantly reduced crop yields of ses-ame, rice and wheat.

Meanwhile, production costs have also surged to a staggering level, with the price of tractors increasing, urea fertiliser now costing Rs4,600 per bag, and electricity tariffs for farm tube wells rising to Rs55-70 per unit.

Moreover, adding to the misery is the fact that the prices of almost all crops, especially wheat and rice, have fallen far below the basic rates set by the govern-ment. The rice prices have fallen from Rs4,400 to Rs2,200 per maund.

This has provided the various mafias active in the field a chance to adopt exploitative policies and tactics, leaving the farmers in the lurch.

The government’s flawed policy of wheat procurement has exacerbated the situation, making it difficult for the farmers, if not impossible, to cover high costs, or manage their farms effectively. They are switching sides and moving towards alternative crops. Some are even considering alternative means of earning.

Most of the farmers have violated the contracts of leased lands due to higher demand of share by the landowners. This is yet another tight spot to deal with for the farmers.

Moreover, cotton production has plunged 60 per cent in both Punjab and Sindh, leaving the farmers and the textile sector between a rock and a hard place. All this happened due to reduction in sowing trend, combined with an extended heatwave, heavy rains and pest infestation.

In fact, the problem is exacerbated by a reduction in growing acreage and the absence of an official intervention price. These issues have decreased crop profit-ability, highlighting a lack of government support for essential research as well as development in the sector.

There is no doubt that if the current policies continue, the agricultural growth rate could fall from the 6.2pc that was registered last year, and the trajectory may move further downwards. Indeed, it was only the agriculture sector that excelled and steered the whole economy last year, underlining its power to uplift the country out of the current crisis.

There is a need for the immediate declaration of an agricultural emergency across the country, and a comprehensive expert dialogue to address the effects of climate change with the aim of preventing further damage to the sector.

Without a series of prompt actions, the agriculture sector, and the country’s food security, could face significant threats.

Chaudhary Aamir Sohail
Sargodha

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2024