'Agriculture productivity of country remains stagnant over the last decade'

The agricultural productivity of the country remained stagnant for the last decade, raising a question mark over the food security amid ever-increasing population. This was stated by the University of Agricultural, Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, while talking to a US delegation comprising David Orden, Senior Research Fellow, Pakistan Strategy Support Programme (PSSP) and Dr Knigsley Bash, chief of Party for PSSP on Wednesday at New Senate Hall.
The vice chancellor said that due to lack of value chain, marketing and traditional ways of farming were main hurdles to increment in productivity. He said that a strong policymaking is required to feed the growing population. He also urged the agricultural scientists to put their all out efforts in a bid to increase production. He was of the view the agricultural land is decreasing because of industrialisation and housing societies. Presenting the statistical date, he said in 1972, agriculture land was 0.29ha per capita, in 1981 it was 0.24 ha per capita and in 2020 it would reduce to 0.11, showing a grim picture of the situation.
He said that it is the need of the hour to adopt precision agriculture. He said that it is observed that the same fertilizer quantity required for a big tree was being given to a small tree as it (small tree) demands much less than the quantity of the fertilizer as compared to big tree , becoming responsible for the wastage of fertilizer.
Dr Kingsley said that the goal of PSSP phase 1 is to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and enhanced food security. He said that main areas of research for his organisation are water management and irrigation Macroeconomics, markets, trade, poverty reduction and social safety nets. He said that they were working on growth framework including increased productivity, quality governance, vibrant and competitive markets, quality of life and energetic youth.
Dr David said The PSSP, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), seeks to create a more favourable enabling environment for investment and enterprise growth, particularly in the agricultural sector. It is being implemented through close collaboration between IFPRI, Innovative Development Strategies (Pvt) Ltd (IDS), and other collaborators, under the guidance of a high-level National Advisory Committee.
He urged the UAF Scientists to put their research proposal and get the funding for the decent work that would bring prosperity in the country. Professor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Division of Education and Extension Director Dr Tanvir Ali, IBMS Director Khalid Mustafa, Department of Agricultural Economics Chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Department of Rural Sociology Chairman Ashfaq Ahmad Maann, Dr Sarfraz Hassan and Dr Rashid Ahmad also spoke.