Government sets 3.5pc agriculture growth target

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has decided to take four key initiative to increase agriculture target of Rs 3.5 from existing 2.7% for the financial year 2021-22.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in his budget speech said that Rs One billion are being allocated for Locust Emergency and Food Security project; Rs two billion for enhancing productivity of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane and pulses; Rs one billion for enhancing olive cultivation on commercial scale and Rs three billion for improvement of water courses.

He said the crop sector has lagged-behind last year because of COVID-19 and intense attack of locust. This year, except for cotton, which was affected due to virus and pest attacks, performance of all other crops namely, wheat, rice, sugarcane, and maize were exceptional. Alhamdulillah wheat, rice, and maize were historic while sugarcane was the second highest in country’s history.

Tarin said the Government is placing highest priority to uplift agriculture sector. In this year, we have witnessed bumper crops of wheat, sugarcane, and rice. However, the potential is much larger.

“Our average yields have remained almost constant over the past few decades due to less than desired focus on innovation, modernization, and productivity,” he said.

For this reason, the Federal Government announced National Agriculture Emergency Program, which intends to uplift agriculture and livestock sector on modern lines covering crop, livestock, fisheries, and water sector

Meanwhile the Government has proposed Rs 12.01 billion for the National Food Security and Research Division for the year 2021-22. This include Rs 4.64 billion for grants subsidies, Rs 3.82 billion for operating expenses, Rs 1.933 billion for physical assets and Rs 3.39 billion for civil works.