Revitalising agriculture sector of Pakistan.

Introduction

Pakistan is an agricultural country by geography and history. The Indus basin hosts one of the world's largest irrigation systems, and the Green Revolution of the 1960s turned Pakistan into a major producer of wheat, rice and cotton. Yet today the country imports wheat, edible oil and pulses, its yields lag far behind global averages, and rural poverty persists. Revitalising agriculture is essential for food security, exports, employment and economic stability.

Importance of agriculture

Agriculture contributes roughly a quarter of GDP and employs well over a third of the labour force. It provides raw materials for textiles, food processing and leather — the backbone of exports — and supports the livelihoods of most rural households. When agriculture grows, rural incomes, demand for industrial goods and food security all improve.

Current state

Growth has been erratic and dependent on weather. Average yields of wheat, cotton, rice and sugarcane are well below those of leading producers and even neighbouring India's Punjab. Cotton production has declined sharply due to pests, poor seed and shifts to sugarcane. Livestock, now the largest sub-sector, suffers from low productivity and poor veterinary services.

Problems

Water. Per-capita water availability has fallen sharply; canal losses, flood irrigation, and over-pumping of groundwater waste water, while storage capacity is limited.

Productivity. Uncertified and substandard seeds, adulterated pesticides, unbalanced fertiliser use, limited mechanisation and weak research and extension services keep yields low.

Structure and markets. Most farmers own small plots, lack access to formal credit and depend on middlemen (arhtis). Poor storage and cold chains cause large post-harvest losses, especially in fruits and vegetables.

Climate change. Heat waves, erratic rains, floods such as those of 2022, and water stress threaten crops and livestock.

Policy distortions. Support prices, subsidies and import decisions are often inconsistent, favouring politically powerful crops such as sugarcane and discouraging diversification.

Lessons from successful models

India's Punjab and China raised yields through high-yielding seeds, irrigation and extension; Israel turned deserts green through drip irrigation and research; the Netherlands, a tiny country, is one of the world's largest agricultural exporters thanks to technology and value addition; and Brazil's research agency Embrapa transformed its tropical agriculture.

Strategy for revitalisation

(i) Water: line canals, promote drip and sprinkler irrigation, regulate groundwater and build storage. (ii) Seeds and research: strengthen research institutes, enforce seed certification, and adopt climate-resilient and biotech varieties under strong biosafety rules. (iii) Mechanisation and inputs: tractor and equipment services for small farmers, laser levelling and quality control of fertilisers and pesticides. (iv) Credit and insurance: expand digital agricultural credit and crop and livestock insurance. (v) Markets: warehouse receipt financing, cold chains, farmer cooperatives and direct digital markets to reduce middlemen's share. (vi) Value addition and exports: processing of fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat and halal food; meet international standards. (vii) Livestock and fisheries modernisation. (viii) Policy: consistent, market-based pricing and crop diversification, with targeted support for small farmers. (ix) Corporate and cooperative farming on barren land, as under the Green Pakistan initiative, with safeguards for local communities.

Counter-argument and refutation

Some argue that Pakistan's future lies in industry and services, and that agriculture is a low-productivity sector to move people out of. But structural transformation succeeds only when agricultural productivity rises first, releasing labour and providing cheap food and raw materials. Countries that skipped this step faced food crises and rural unrest. Modern agriculture is itself a high-technology, value-added industry.

Conclusion

Pakistan's agriculture has enormous untapped potential: fertile land, a vast irrigation system and a hardworking rural population. Revitalising it requires efficient water use, better seeds and research, access to credit and markets, value addition and climate resilience. A prosperous countryside is the foundation of a stable and food-secure Pakistan.