HYDERABAD, Nov 19: The vice chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, Bashir Ahmed Chandio, while terming corporate farming a good concept, expressed doubts about its success in Pakistan.

The vice chancellor, while talking to newsmen, said that there is the need of big parcels of land in order to carry out corporate farming; however, in Pakistan, particularly in the Indus Valley, the concept of such type of farming seems difficult because of the lack of economical land holdings.

He said that besides big parcels of land a complete agriculture infrastructure was required to carry out corporate farming, and added that the small farmers of the country, particularly the farmers of the Indus Valley, were unable to acquire required facilities from their own pockets.

He said that it was difficult to invest and manage small pieces of land.

He said that despite having 40 millions acre of land under the irrigation system and attachment of 60 per cent rural employment with the agriculture sector, the sector, which covers 25 per cent of the GDP, is still not a profitable business in Pakistan, and added that agriculture in Pakistan was surviving only because of poor peasants and their family members.

“There is the need of sincere efforts if we desired to make the agriculture sector a profitable business in the country,” he said, and added that provision of all required facilities is essential in this direction.

Small farmers run from pillar to post for getting agriculture loans for cultivating their crops, while the big landlords can get loans easily which they use for their personal interests.

The vice chancellor expressed his dismay over the poor response of agriculture extension, adding that the extension services have almost been terminated instead of boosting the same with all required facilities, including vehicles, to the field staff.

The extension services should not be closed as it is also one of the major sources of providing jobs to agriculture graduates, he added.

Replying to a question about the success of drip and sprinkle irrigation system in order to avoid the wastage of water, Mr Chandio, who is one of the key experts of water management, said that these projects are beyond the economical reach of the growers and could not carry out from their own pockets.

He said that the side effects of these projects, which only help in avoiding the wastage of water, could also not be ruled out, and added that due to canal irrigation system, depressions, salinity and other factors are available in the country’s agriculture sector, which could pose a threat to carry out drip of sprinkle irrigation systems in the country.

He, however, suggested carrying out these systems wherever it was required in the country.

He said that these projects were given to Balochistan province, but the growers were not ready to install these systems from their own pockets, and added that each system was costing Rs60,000 per acre, which was difficult for small growers to afford.

About land levelling, the vice chancellor underlined the need for using all agriculture technologies on scientific basis.

Because of the lack of experts, the use of latest agriculture technologies, including zero tillage land levelling, is quite difficult, he remarked.

About livestock development, Mr Chandio said that without livestock development success in the agriculture sector can not be achieved. There is a dire and rapid need of establishing livestock industry, particularly in Thar desert area, where the industry could not successfully flourish.

He said that maximum number of livestock is being brought from Thar deserts for Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities of the province, and added that efforts can be made to transport meat instead of animals to these cities by establishing a livestock industry in Tharparkar. The establishment of an industry in the desert area would also prove helpful in providing job opportunities to the area people, he said.

About the academic performance of the Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, the vice chancellor said that the university was playing a vital role in providing human resources backup for the agriculture sector. Scores of graduates of the university have been engaged to boost the agriculture sector in the country, he added.—APP