FPCCI raises alarm over poor agricultural growth

ISLAMABAD: The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday said agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the country’s economy, grew only by two percent in the last one decade, adding to the existing economic worries. 

“The dismal growth should be noticed as the majority of the people in the country depends on this critical sector,” said Atif Ikram Sheikh, chairman FPCCI Regional Committee on Industries, in a statement issued. 

“The ratio of value-addition for the important crops remained 1.5 percent while the horticulture sector suffered, even more.” 

Sheikh continued that if the government did not promote commercial agriculture, the rural communities will continue to live under the line of poverty.   “Pakistan earns $1.5 billion by selling one million bales of cotton, while Bangladesh earns $6 billion by adding value to the same quantity of cotton,” he said, adding, our policymakers were more focused on improving yield and less concerned about quality and value-addition. 

Moving ahead, Sheikh lamented that Pakistan was producing around 30 million tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables, but could not export it to US and EU markets due to quality issues. 

“Our exporters have no option but to export some of the quantity to the countries, where quality checks are not stringent, but these countries also frequently ban our agricultural products due to multiple issues,” the FPCCI leader said regretfully. 

He appealed to the government to focus on the agriculture sector, improve cold and supply chain, create awareness and offer affordable machinery so that quality and quantity of production can be improved. 

“In addition, research should be improved while the cost of inputs like fertilisers, diesel, electricity, seeds, and pesticides be reduced,” he demanded.