Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency by modernizing the sector and harnessing potential of youth and experienced experts.
Chairing a high-level consultative meeting in Islamabad, he said Pakistan is blessed with fertile land, skilled agricultural professionals and hardworking farmers. He said the opinion and suggestions of relevant stakeholders will be reviewed and utilized through a coordinated strategy to advance the agriculture sector.
Shehbaz Sharif noted that the agriculture sector can be robustly developed by promoting agro-based cottage industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and storage facilities.
The Prime Minister highlighted the lack of adequate arrangements for off-season crop storage and the absence of small-scale value addition plants. He said if such facilities were established in rural areas, our youth could start their own ventures, create employment opportunities and export produce emphasizing that this area also requires focused attention.
During the session, the participants identified key areas for agricultural development and emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms and a scientific approach. Suggestions were made to improve the availability of smartphone and internet access in rural areas under the umbrella of agricultural digitalization and artificial intelligence, to create a centralized farmer database and to introduce blockchain and QR code systems for the delivery of agricultural inputs.
In the field of research and development, it was agreed to focus on soil fertility, promote the production of nutrient-rich crops through modern scientific methods and launch training programs through public-private partnerships to enhance farmers’ capacity.
The participants vowed to take concrete steps to make the youth an active part of national agricultural development, prioritize scientific research, and move Pakistan toward agricultural self-sufficiency through collective efforts.