Rapid growth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's urban areas is increasing demand for high-value perishable products such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat is rising, said the recently published KP Economic Review 2016-17. According to the review, agriculture is the centre of economic growth and development in Pakistan as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; accounts for 20.68 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016-17.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has almost agrarian economy and thus agriculture engage more than 36 percent labour force of KP. The sector has traditionally sustained a satisfactory growth to ensure food security for growing population. However, the major challenge faced by this lifeline sector of country's economy remained as low returns of their commodities to farmers due to higher costs of production. Overall agriculture development strategy revolves around public-private partnership to foster the improved agriculture related practices through policy interventions to ensure contributory approach, conducive environment and capacity-building of farming community. The emphasis is on improving productivity and moving from subsistence to market-oriented farming to meet the domestic demand and surplus for export in the country.
The Economic Review said agriculture sector directly helps in redistribution of poverty and provides the farmers a required level of nutritious food. It thus plays a central role in national development, food security and poverty reduction.
The provincial government is focusing to increase the yield for rural growers through major infrastructure investments including reliable transport networks and other building blocks for modern supply chains. The provincial government is also trying to modernize agriculture sector for increasing production, which in turn can help in achieving sustainable growth.
It further states that the potential role for agriculture in development is to reduce poverty. Growing population size requires agriculture growth compatible to meet required level of food. The change in consumption pattern with a change in per capita income level requires more proteins containing diet. The transition of agriculture from traditional to modern farming techniques is based on adequate availability of inputs like certified seeds, balanced use of fertilizer, mechanization, agricultural credit and opportunities of investment in agricultural research.
The KP Economic Review adds that the achievement of better productivity requires efficient utilization of water resources while the static cropping pattern requires serious attention as well. The adverse impact of climate change on productivity needs to be countered through adaptation and mitigating measures based on innovations and diversification by inculcating farming community to adopt advanced techniques.
The way forward is to raise the yield of crops along with livestock and fisheries production and improve the agro-based industrial value addition. The improved road and communication infrastructure in rural areas has facilitated the farmers to tap more income from production cycle of crops, livestock an perishable items (fruits and vegetables) through improved supply chain.
The report has also identified some major outputs/deliverables of sectors and sub-sectors for agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors. The agriculture sector is required dissemination of improved technology amongst the farming community for improved productivity; development of new high-yielding, resistant and good quality varieties/hybrids of crops, vegetables, fruits and others for different agro-ecological zones of KP; production of high quality pre-basic seeds/clones of new and prevailing varieties/hybrids of crops, vegetables and fruits for its distribution to concerned agencies and progressive farmers for further multiplication for the common farmers.
The other outputs for agriculture sector are reclamation of cultivable wasteland and to bring it under cultivation; protection or conservation of agriculture lands and water harvesting and efficient utilization of irrigation water through water management techniques and bringing more area under irrigation.
The outputs for livestock sector are the provision of animal health facilities and services through establishment and maintenance of veterinary hospitals, dispensaries and centres; provision of Livestock Production Extension Services and establishment of livestock breeding farms for propagation of different livestock species; improvement of local breeds through the provision of artificial insemination services; quality control and meat production and research in animal health and production to enhance livestock and poultry production.