SECRETARY, NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY CHAIRS MEETING OF FEDERAL COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE Islamabad: November 11, 2013 Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) Mr. Seerat Asghar on behalf of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, presided over the first meeting of Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) at Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Headquarters Islamabad. The meeting reviewed the kharif crops 2013-14 and to discussed the plan for production target of Rabi Crops 2013-14, covering major food crops of wheat, gram, lentil,s potato, onion, oilseed like rapeseed, mustard. The meeting also discussed matters regarding the domestic consumption and export of the crops. The situation regarding availability of different farm inputs including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water and agriculture credit was also reviewed in the meeting. The message of Federal Minister for NFS&R was read out by Dr. M. Aslam Gill, Food Security Commissioner (MNFS&R). Chairman PARC Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and Heads of Federal and Provincial Agriculture and allied departments attended this meeting. In this meeting, 25 million tonnes wheat target during rabi 2013-14 was set up with availability of fertilizer during December and January. Availability of certified seeds, agriculture credit and pesticides particularly herbicides was also ensured by the relevant departments. In the meeting, the FCA forum appreciated the contribution of PARC scientists towards introduction of lentil variety Markaz-9 NARC. Mr. Seerat Asghar said it is the first meeting of FCA after 18th Constitutional Amendments under which the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture was devolved to the Provinces. This meeting is held after three year and with the consultation of provinces we will succeed to achieve maximum target. He further said that wheat sowing should be completed before 30 November. All provinces complete their wheat sowing targets on time. Delay in sowing causes decrease in production. He said weather and agriculture are related with each other. During this rabi season rain and snow falls are expected more which will meet our water requirement for agriculture. He said MNFS&R is looking after the subject of the devolved Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Besides this, MNFS&R has additional responsibilities of national food and nutrition policies. So the work load has increased instead of decreasing. He said Pakistan is an agrarian economy. To feed the ever increasing population with limited resources is a big challenge. The ground realities are that Pakistan should be self-sufficient in agriculture and food supplies. Pakistan is luckiest to have all natural resources. Still, there exists a gap to be filled in the production of different crops. The nature has gifted us with four seasons and all needed bio-diversity to produce almost all crops throughout the year. The available natural resources and the four seasons are helping us in sustained crop production and prices. He said he not interested to open a debate on the devolution of agriculture but of the view that this decision will negatively affect the agricultural sector and rural economy. For the last five years, the growth rate in agriculture is 2.5% which is lowest in the history. As envisaged that after the devolution of Food and Agriculture and the award of NFC, the provinces were supposed to invest in the agriculture sector and rural economy but it is heartening that this sector is ignorant both at the federal and provincial levels. This is reflected in the budget estimates of the provinces. With the devolution of Food and Agriculture, not only the federal government lost the international coordination and cooperation but the linkages with the national agricultural system also weakened. All these circumstances lead to the establishment of this new ministry. He said it is important to note that farmers’ poverty can not be alleviated with more production as the gap between potential yield and farmers yield is low. For the uplift of the farming communities, there are two options i) reforms in the WTO agreements and access to inter-national markets and ii) value addition of the produce. He said the forum will deliberate on all these issues and recommend suggestions to the ministry. He said the ministry has also shared the draft food and nutritional security policy with all stakeholders, this rationale to share the draft policy was to get feedback. With all this background, holding the FCA meeting is a right step in right direction, because we have learnt from the history that without advancement in the agriculture sector, the national prosperity can not be achieved. Without investment and development in the agriculture sector, the economic status of 56% rural population can not be improved. Let start a new beginning with a new promise. He said with sustainable growth in agriculture sector; we will succeed to achieve the desired targets.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:57:51 +0000
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