Jun 25, 2007

Sindh: Experts Call for Agriculture Review


At a consultative workshop held on Sunday 24 June 2007 in Hyderabad, India, experts called for a review of the agricultural sector, considered the backbone of the national economy.

At a consultative workshop held on Sunday 24 June 2007 in Hyderabad, India, experts called for a review of the agriculture, as it is considered the backbone of the national economy.

Below is an article published by The News International:

Speakers said at a consultative workshop here on Sunday [24 June 2007] that agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and the government should pay attention to this sector through providing subsidies and loans to growers with a sustainable system.

The speakers included growers, economists and academicians. They were of the view that A properly facilitated and developed agriculture sector will improve the economy. They urged the policymakers and planners to review agriculture development policies, keeping in view the suggestions of the academia and growers.

The one-day “Orientation and Consultative Workshop on Trade Initiatives from Human Development Perspective in Sindh Agriculture” was jointly organised by the Centre for Rural Development Communication (CRDC), University of Sindh and the TIHP-UNDP at the Sindhiology Museum. A large number of academicians, research scholars from different universities, growers, eminent agriculturalists and representatives of trade, agriculture and Chamber of Commerce organisations attended the workshop.

Vice-Chancellor University of Sindh Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui inaugurated the workshop. He said the agriculture sector, which has tremendous potential, is the most neglected one and needs proper attention of the policymakers. He pointed out that the importance of the agriculture sector for the economy is realised the world over and the same results could be achieved in Pakistan through paying due attention to this sector.

He mentioned that the urban people live a comfortable life because of the efforts of the laborious rural people, but they do not receive due appreciation for their efforts, which is an injustice to them. He underlined the need for provision of education and basic facilities to the growers.

The VC also announced that the Sindh University has allocated two million rupees for the CRDC to undertake different research programmes.

National Project Manager Zubair Faisal Abbasi said globalisation in the perspective of human development is most important. He said the UNDP has initiated different programmes to share knowledge and interaction with the academicians and scholars to learn from them about human development. He said involvement of the stakeholders in policy-making would give proper results.

President Sindh Abadgar Board and agriculturalist Abdul Majeed Nizamani underlined the need for subsidies and a healthy environment with basic facilities for the growers in Sindh.

He urged the government to provide small loans on easy terms to the growers for purchasing seeds and fertilizers on time. There should be proper water management and distribution of water so that water reaches the destinations in time, he added.