Out of focus

This letter refers to the editorial ‘Flour crisis’ (Jan 21, 2020). Whether the wheat crisis has been caused by mismanagement or something more sinister can be debated. The worrying thing is that the agriculture sector has been ruined over the years. Cotton production is at its lowest in a decade. The yields of other crops are declining as well and the small farmers, in particular, are in great distress. Despite agriculture being the backbone of our economy, Pakistan has become a food importer.

Successive governments have neglected the farming sector. The lack of institutional support is reflected in the insufficient focus on research and technical assistance. During the past five decades, not a single new agricultural research centre has been established in the country while the existing ones are in a dilapidated condition. The number of ‘agronomists’ in the country is minuscule. There is more focus on converting fertile agricultural lands into housing societies to earn quick and easy money. A paradigm shift is required in the government’s economic thinking. It requires greater participation of the government machinery to revive agriculture. Unfortunately, the government does not have the will and capacity to do this.

Arif Majeed

Karachi