Agriculture transformation plan will revitalize the farmer of the country: Fakhar Imam

Islamabad (VOM ): Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam chaired the 20th meeting of National Coordination Committee of the Agriculture Transformation Plan. The meeting was conducted with the provincial counterparts to monitor the ongoing progress of ATP. The meeting was convened by Mr. Abid Suleri and was attended by the chairman PARC Dr. Ghulam M. Ali and the representative of the agriculture departments of all provinces.

Fakhar Imam said that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure progress is monitored in order to ensure that the Agriculture Transformation Plan is on track. He said that the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has put special emphasis on the up-gradation of the Agriculture Sector. He said that almost 19 % of GDP is directly contributed by the Agriculture Sector and that through value addition it can become the backbone of the country.

Fakhar Imam was briefed that out of Rs. 5 billion, a total of Rs. 4 billion has been disbursed to ZTBL while, Rs. 1 billion are still pending. Punjab informed the minister that a total of 780,000 Kissan Card have been issued to the registered farmers and around Rs. 5.6 billion subsidies have been disbursed through Kissan Card. He further submitted that almost one (01) million farmers will be registered through Kissan Card by June 2022. Minister was briefed that 124,000 Kissan Cards were issued in KPK and a subsidy amounting to Rs. 575 million have been disbursed.

Fakhar said that collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences could be a game-changer for Pakistan. He said that we need to exchange expertise on mechanization, new variety development, and germplasm. Minister said that China leads the world in agriculture mechanization and Pakistan can catapult its agriculture sector through learning from their knowledge and experience.

Imam said that Agriculture Transformation Plan will revitalize the farmer of the country. He said that the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has put special emphasis on the up-gradation of the Agriculture Sector. Fakhar Imam ensured all the participants that necessary steps will be immediately taken to provide any support needed by the provinces.

Fakhar was briefed about the ongoing efforts of the provinces to ensure the availability and price of all inputs for crops. He said that these measures need to be further strengthened in order to protect the small farmer. Fakhar Imam ensured all the participants that necessary steps will be immediately taken to provide any support needed by the provinces. Fakhar Imam praised the efforts of Punjab in ensuring that the farmers sow wheat seeds timely.