Plight of farmers

The agriculture sector is the backbone of the country’s economy. Sixty two percent of Pakistanis are directly or indirectly linked with agriculture. This second largest sector of the country accounts for over 21 percent of the GDP. Farmers contribute a lot towards the development of the sector. However, the government is not giving incentives to farmers. For example, the price of cotton is set between Rs1,800 and 2,000 per 40kg. The average yield per acre is not more than 1000kg. This has created a disparity between the income and the related expenses. The expenses of cotton plantation are very high. Expensive pesticides are used on the agriculture land to save crops from insects. The cost of manure and seed is also quite high. Where a farmer doesn’t own a land, he has to pay an excessive rent of the land. The meagre income cannot set off the expenses of farmers. This has added miseries to the lives of farmers.

According to the UN, Pakistan is the world’s fourth largest producer and supplier of cotton. In order to have further growth in the sector, the government should focus on improving the present condition of poor farmers. Undoubtedly, it is farmers who are running the sector.

Hassan Nawaz

Sahiwal