ISLAMABAD: Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Farmers Wing Khalid Nawaz Sadhraich has called for the revival and activation of Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to ensure that modern agricultural technologies developed by research institutions reach farmers directly and contribute to increased crop productivity.

In a statement issued following meetings with local farmer organisations and growers from various districts, Mr Sadhraich said valuable agricultural research conducted by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc), the National Agricultural Research Centre (Narc) and provincial agricultural research institutions remained largely confined to files instead of benefiting farmers in the field.

He said farmers field schools had previously served as an effective bridge between agricultural scientists and farmers, enabling experts to educate cultivators directly about modern farming practices, improved crop varieties, efficient water management and advanced production technologies.

“Unfortunately, this system has become almost inactive, leaving farmers deprived of the latest innovations and technical guidance. Kisan prosperity is Pakistan’s prosperity, while the exploitation of farmers is a loss to the national economy,” he remarked.

He added that the PTI farmers wing continued to work to address issues facing the agricultural sector and to ensure that agriculture-related policies were put on the right track.

Sadhraich recalled that PTI founder Imran Khan, during his tenure as prime minister, personally visited farming communities, listened to their concerns and worked on a comprehensive strategy for agricultural development.

In contrast, he criticised current policymakers for formulating agricultural policies from closed offices, far removed from the realities faced by farmers in the field.

He said that the agriculture sector and farming community had been largely ignored in the current federal budget, creating widespread anxiety among farmers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Karachi.

“Farmers continue to struggle with inadequate storage facilities, soaring prices of agricultural inputs, exploitation by middlemen and numerous other challenges that are undermining agricultural productivity and profitability,” he added.

He urged the prime minister, the federal minister for national food security and research, and other relevant authorities to visit agricultural areas personally and witness firsthand the difficulties confronting farmers across the country.

He maintained that billions of rupees spent annually in the name of agricultural research often failed to deliver practical benefits to cultivators.

He proposed that substantial portions of funds currently spent on seminars, conferences and administrative activities should instead be allocated as long-term interest-free loans to farmers.

Such support, he said, would enable growers to establish storage facilities, reduce post-harvest losses and sell their produce directly to government agencies when necessary rather than being exploited by middlemen.

Highlighting the export potential of Pakistani agriculture, he stressed that farmers require access to internationally recognised packaging standards, particularly for fruit exports.

“A significant portion of Pakistan’s fruit production is lost each year due to inadequate storage infrastructure and poor packaging practices, resulting in losses not only for farmers but also for the national economy,” he added.

Mr Sadhraich also conveyed farmers’ demands for a review of the current budget proposals and called upon the government to allocate substantial resources for agricultural development, including the construction of farm-to-market roads, the modernisation of storage facilities and the promotion of advanced farming technologies.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026