President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain has demanded a proper mechanism to regularly monitor the agri policies, position of the farmers and contribution of the agriculture field. Lauding Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for allocating additional resources for promotion of agriculture, he said that allocation of Rs 147 billion for agriculture and its sub-sectors is a welcome move which will also have a positive impact on livestock, irrigation, forestry and food.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that the federal government has also taken laudable steps to promote the ailing sector and now the Punjab has followed it which is a welcome development as this sector is considered backbone of the economy. Pakistan is an agriculture country but due importance was not given to the farming field by the successive governments which resulted in reduced GDP.
This sector provided employment to 44 per cent population and contributed 21 per cent to the GDP, it also provides 70 per cent of the raw material to textile industry, the largest export sector and it is vital for the national food security. Mian Zahid Hussain said that the promotion of agriculture is necessary to increase GDP, enhance industrial development, raise income of rural population and strengthen financial position of the growers which has now being realised.
He said that the landlords should not dominate the entire assistances and the small farmers should also be given due share in the relief as it was vital for reviving the declining agricultural sector. Agriculture is no more a neglected sector as it will be strengthened due to the efforts of the government which has put it back on the track. He said that small farmers should be included in the policymaking process in future.