ISLAMABAD: The high-powered Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) tasked with overseeing strategic measures to ensure food security in the country met under the chairmanship of Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research.
Apart from the participation of senior officials of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the meeting was attended by Provincial Agriculture Departments, State Bank of Pakistan, ZTBL, National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC), Pakistan Meteorological Department, Indus River System Authority and member of Pakistan Planning Commission for Food Security and climate change.
The Federal Minister for Industry and Production and Food Security, in his address to the Federal Committee on Agriculture, said that to ensure food security: “We must increase domestic agricultural production by increasing productivity per acre.
While the availability of food commodities in the country is generally satisfactory, affordability remains a major concern for the poor sections of society. Pakistan has huge production potential in agriculture, livestock and fisheries thereby averting the problem of hunger.
However, the efficient use of production resources by adopting modern technologies, implementing realistic marketing systems and minimizing trade barriers is essential for sustainable economic growth and prosperity, the minister said.
The minister said that Pakistan is facing natural crises due to climate change, so agriculture is a priority for the government.
To stabilize the food security situation, the government is trying to help farmers by providing inputs at affordable prices and ensuring better prices for their produce to bridge the gap.
The minister said the government envisions enhancing pro-poor agriculture-based economic growth and promoting nutrition-sensitive practices to reduce various forms of malnutrition. This includes increasing the profitability and competitiveness of farms by harnessing the existing productivity potential of various crops, livestock and horticulture, while creating an enabling environment for investment in the agricultural value chain.
Reviewing the performance of the Rabi (2023-24) crops, the committee found that wheat production in 2023-24 is estimated at 29.69 million tonnes from an area of 9.6 million hectares; the increase in production is 5.4% over the last year, onion production for 2023-24 is estimated at 1.92 million tonnes from an area of 0.122 million hectares; the increase in production is 3.9%, while the area has decreased by 5.4% in the last year, the production of tomatoes for 2023-24 is estimated at 627.47 thousand. tons from an area of 50.9 thousand last year, potato production for 2023-24 is estimated at 8.1 million tonnes from an area of 0.3 million hectares, an increase in production of 27.9% above the target set by the last FCA.
The current government has prioritized agriculture to boost the country’s economy and uplift the people’s livelihood.
The FCA discussed in detail the Kharif staple crop production targets for 2024-25 and decided to set cotton production target at 10.8 million bales while rice production target at 8.7 million tonnes on over 3.1 million hectares of land. Maize target to set a production target of 9.3 million tonnes on more than 1.5 million hectares of land. The committee also set a production target (2024–25) of sugarcane at 76.7 million tonnes in an area of 1.3 million hectares. Targets have also been set for other crops such as mung, sorghum and chillies.
Considering availability of agricultural inputs for Kharif (2024) crops, canal water availability will remain at 63.61 million acre feet (MAF) as against last year’s 61.85 MAF. Currently, all provinces are receiving their satisfactory supplies into the system.
The Meteorological Department has informed that normal to slightly above normal rainfall is expected over most of the country during April to June 2024, especially over upper Punjab in the season of May to July 2024. The tendency of above normal rainfall is likely to prevail in the month of August and September 2024. The weighted normal area rainfall in Pakistan during the monsoon season in 140.8 mm. It is also informed that there will be enough water for irrigation and energy.
The Director General (FSC&RD) informed the house that rice, maize, sesame and mung bean seeds would be available as per requirement. A representative from the State Bank of Pakistan informed that the institutional credit allocations for agriculture for 2023-24 have substantially increased to Rs 2250 billion and the disbursement till February 2023 is Rs 1073.5 billion which is 59% of the total annual target of 1819 billion which is 28.5% more than the payout of 835.3 billion made during last year.
The FCA has directed the concerned departments to remain vigilant to balance the fertilizer supply-demand situation so that a quick decision can be taken on imports to meet domestic requirements during the upcoming kharif season.
In conclusion, the Committee expressed satisfaction with the food security situation in the country, however, stressed the need for research and development as well as better coordination to consolidate gains and ensure further progress of the industry.
