Initiatives and Achievements

The present government has always strived for making agriculture competitive and profitable through enhanced crop production on sustainable basis both at farm and country level. The major initiatives and achievements of the present government during the year 2009-10 are summarised as follows.
Revision of Agricultural Policy:
The present government decided to review our national agricultural policy for the development of agriculture through agricultural modernisation, organisation restructuring, structural transformation, value addition and quality enhancement in order to meet the demands of modern world. The first draft of National Agricultural Development Policy Framework 2010-15" was prepared and submitted to attach department for improvement at their end. A strategy for effective implementation of this policy will be worked out. Strategy for ensuring regular supply and rational support price policy of major and minor crops was approved by the ECC of the Cabinet and being implemented accordingly.
Ensuring fair returns to Wheat, Rice, Cotton and Sugarcane growers:
The government realised that the poor interest of farmers in the agriculture sector is due to lack of adequate incentives in agriculture. The present government arrived at the policy to ensure, safeguard and guarantee the economic benefits of the farmers of the country successfully accomplishing the strategic role of food production for the entire nation. The government made a record increase in the support price of wheat ie Rs 950/40 kg for year 2008-09 that reflects farmers friendly policy of the government. Timely announcement of this attractive Support Price was the most important step of present government that encouraged the farmers to grow more wheat. To maintain the momentum of growth in wheat production, the government retained the support price of Rs 950/40 kg for the current year in spite of the declining trend international price of wheat. The government adopted farmers friendly policy and attained food security. The attractive support price resulted in record production of about 24 millions of ton wheat during 2008-09 and the government was succeeded in record procurement of 9 million tons of wheat. Similarly the government has announced the intervention prices for both types of rice ie, IRRI type (Rs 700/40 kg) and for Super Basmati (Rs 1250/40 kg). This resulted in record production of 6.9 million tons of rice. The PASSCO was instructed to establish their procurement centre in the Kalar belt of Basmati Rice and for IRRI other parts of the country. This save the farmers from the expected loss due to decline in market price.
For the cotton crops the government prepared the draft policy for incentive price but pended the decision in view of revenue rated prices the open market in the larger interest of farming community. Similarly, policy analysis for sugarcane another minor crop were conveyed to the provincial governments for announcing their indicative prices wherever they deem fit.
Benazir Tractor Scheme to promoting Farm mechanisation:
In order to improve various farming practices, Benazir Tractor Scheme was formulated to provide subsidised tractors and agricultural machinery to the farmers. It was planned to distribute 10,000 tractors to farmers with a subsidy of Rs 200,000/tractor.
Availability of Quality Seeds:
Seed is a most important primary input in crop production system. Availability of pure quality certified seeds of high yielding varieties of various crops were ensured during the last few seasons to serve the basis for maximised production. About 35,000 mt certified seed of cotton while 15,000 mt seed of rice was available for planting during the season. There were good seed quality reports throughout the crop belts. Distribution of good quality seeds resulted in better crop stand establishment thus significantly raising the yield bars in various crops like wheat, rice, maize, gram, mung, pearl millet etc. A special project was started to promote local production of vegetables seeds.
Government facilitated the access of growers to elite international germplasm of various crops. During the year 2008-09, 22 high yielding and stress tolerant hybrid rice varieties were screened and their import was allowed by the government to maximise rice production in the country to import after adaptability testing with the objective to ensure food security and produce exportable surplus for international market. Their import was facilitated by exemption of 10% custom duty on their import. This played a key role to elevate the production levels of rice this year. About 1500 mt hybrid seed of 5 exotic rice hybrids was imported from China and Philippine.
A scientific system of evaluation of exotic hybrid rice varieties has been developed and strictly implemented by the federal government to ensure the import of most promising hybrids in the country and restrict the import of huge number of varieties. Import of hybrid rice from India was also allowed. Import of most productive varieties of hybrid maize, sunflower, canola, fodder sorghum and vegetables was also facilitated.
Access to Crop Biotechnology through Genetically Modified Varieties of Cotton:
Present government adopted a policy that Biotechnology would provide powerful tools for sustainable development of agriculture in Pakistan. It will ensure food security and poverty alleviation at rural level. Biotechnology can play a significant role in meeting the needs of an increasing and expanding rural as well as urban population in the new millennium. Thus the government planned to introduce hi-tech seeds (hybrid and Bt cotton seeds) in the country with the collaboration of multinational seed companies like Monsanto etc. Testing of Bt cotton varieties is in process. Transfer of this technology in the country was also ensured through signing an LOI and developing an MOU with Monsanto.
Funding for Agricultural Development Projects:
The government has allocated an amount of Rs 18 billion for 51 projects (36 on-going and 15 new projects) for agricultural development through Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) during the year 2009-10. Various agricultural development projects (more than 51) were funded with the objective to ensure food security in the country, provision of quality and timely inputs and transfer of technology to promote Good agricultural practices (GAP) in the farming community throughout the country.
Financing Agriculture through Credit:
During the current year 2008-09, Rs 250 billion were allocated for distribution through public and private sector banks among the growers to finance their inputs and operational requirements that was 20% higher than the last year distribution. The Government also enhanced the "indicative per acre credit limit" for major and minor crops, orchards and forestry by an average 70 percent from 2008-09. The enhancement in the credit limit was made on the basis of current prices of agriculture inputs, like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, electricity and land rent.
The decision was taken in line with government's priority to develop agriculture sector and to ensure adequate and timely availability of agricultural credit to the farming community. Crop loan insurance scheme was also introduced to enhance the access of farmers to agricultural loans and to protect his investment. Provision of agricultural credit to farmers facilitated them to procure the costly inputs in order to ensure the target planting and production of various crops.
Benazir Credit Card Schemes and Crop Loan Insurance Schemes were also introduced for the benefit of cotton, rice and other crops growers. In view of hike in input prices the government has allocated Rs 260 billion for advancing loans among the growers for the financial 2009-10.
Subsidy on Fertilizers:
Government planned to ensure the timely distribution of all types of fertilizers at reasonable prices. In order to promote balanced use of fertilizers a subsidy of Rs 500/bag (50kg) on potash would help the farmers to use Potash fertilizer. For current crop season 2009-10, the Government ensures the local production of 2.7 Million tons of Urea and 0.65 millions tons of DAP countrywide.