Literate farmers

The main purpose of adult education programmes is to see that every individual in the state knows at least reading, writing and basic arithmetic, such knowledge is essential for everyone, especially in a democracy. In Pakistan, however, it has been observed that the implementation of literacy policy has been low due to many causes like scarcity of resources, low capacity and political will.

Adult literacy programmes need to be initiated immediately especially in the rural farming areas of the country. Since agriculture is one of the largest industrial sectors of the country, there needs to be detailed information and literacy about modern ways of farming, irrigation, sowing, ploughing, reaping and fertilising the land for greater productivity of the sector. This sector needs education programmes to create jobs and grow as it contributes around 48 percent to GDP. On that basis, the literacy of farmers is essential.

Syed Muhammad Ahsan Ali

Karachi