Looking closely on PML-N and PTI manifestos announced this week, once is forced to ask whether is it better to make some actionable promises than to make none.
Let’s start with the incumbent party: its document appears compelling on surface as it compares sector-by-sector performance during the latest stint in power followed by description of their targets if the electorate gives them another turn.
And delivered they have. Notable achievements talked up include the turnaround in sector’s growth trajectory in its last two fiscal years. Credit is given to PM Kissan package announced conveniently before local bodies’ election in 2015, which offered fertilizer subsidy and concessionary loans to farmers.
Other successes discussed include conversion of 43,000 acres of arable land to drip irrigation; and reduction of duties on farming machinery import and taxes on tractor sale. Juxtapose the specificity of accomplishments with the targets set, and you will be left searching for value in generic promises of value-addition (pun intended).
For one thing, PML-N’s targets set for agriculture sector have no whiff of quantification: from crops to livestock, dairy, fishery and seeds, the document promises value-addition everywhere but does not even hint at any amount of promised investment.
Moreover, there is little in terms of how any of the promises shall be achieved. For example, promises are made to “improve seed quality to control crop epidemics”, to “increase focus on fodder crops”, and to “bring milk and meat prices under control through policy review”. One can hope that all of this is accomplished, but don’t expect the manifesto to explain how!
One would expect that the “government-in-waiting” for the last 22 years would be a little more prepared on the policymaking front. The agricultural section of PTI’s manifesto starts like most of its leader’s speeches: scathing criticism of how the sector is in shambles and a victim of “gross neglect”. Fast forward the platitudes, and here too one finds that quantification is missing.
The manifesto promises “optimizing existing and introducing new subsidies”, “increase access to credit”, to “expand agriculture produce markets”, and, doesn’t hold breathe for this one: “expand existing and create new markets for value addition”. PTI’s agricultural policy is also notable in that it does not mention one major crop by its name.
For the two major parties expected to dog-fight down to the last national and provincial seat in Punjab, agenda for revival of agricultural sector is conspicuously absent from their manifestoes. And there may be nothing wrong with this approach. While it may be politically incorrect to assert so, but this election may have little to do with manifestoes and a lot to do with posturing. May the best team win!
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