Agriculture sector needs immediate policy attention: Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri

Deputy Chairman, Board of Governors of MUL, and renowned economist Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri has said that after increase in the prices of electricity, fertilizers and petroleum products, the ongoing flash floods and torrential rains have broken the back of farmers, making it virtually difficult for them to grow their crops. He warned that if the immediate attention is not paid, it will gravely undermine the productivity of the agriculture sector; the food insecurity will increase and the prices of the food items will go up, a prospect Pakistan can ill-afford.

Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri asked the policy makers to pay heed to the requirements of the agriculture sector and take urgent actions to save it from the likely deterioration. He demanded the imposition of agricultural emergency, the provision of interest-free loans and diesel and petrol on subsidized rates for five years. He said that the agricultural emergency should not be treated as a matter of farmers’ welfare but that of national security. He said that in case a food crisis is created, it will lead to a law and order situation in the country.

Deputy Chairman, BoG of Minhaj University Lahore, said that close to Rs. 100 billion are being spent on the import of three items such as tea, palm oil and wheat, adding that the import of wheat has increased by 100 percent this year compared to the previous years, which is a matter of serious concern. He said that the ongoing international economic crisis has made things worse for the food crisis.

Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri stated categorically that there is a strong connection between food items, national security and the law and order situation. He said when a common man will have problems in making his both ends meet, a situation which will make him desperate. He said that it is the agriculture sector alone that can save the people from the specter of the severe food shortages. He said that the reduction in productivity of the agriculture sector will also affect the output of the industrial sector and there can be massive job losses, creating fresh layers of problems for the country.

Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that Pakistan is finding it difficult to finance the import of petroleum products and if the import bill also includes wheat, it will exacerbate the economic crisis. He said that Pakistan is indebted to the tune of $130 billion and is forced to seek more loans to keep the wheels of the economy running. He said that if the medium to long-term roadmap was not prepared, there is a real danger that the country would default. He said that our policy makers do not like the reference to Sri Lanka, stating that the fact remains that the explosion of the economy led to severe national security challenges for the island country.