ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the relevant authorities to develop a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with provincial governments, aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural reforms.
While chairing a review meeting on agriculture sector development, the prime minister emphasized that the reform process will begin by offering easy loans to farmers through a public-private partnership model.
He instructed immediate reforms in the Zarai Taraqqiati Bank to ensure transparent and efficient loan disbursement to farmers.
The prime minister further stated that the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would prioritize agriculture-related projects, particularly those focused on mechanization, digitization, improved credit access for farmers, and fostering a more business-friendly environment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the sustainable agricultural reforms would further boost the national economy and reiterated the government’s commitment to an enhanced focus on reforming the livestock sector alongside agricultural commodities.
He said that the federal and provincial governments would fully cooperate to implement agricultural reforms and called for proposals for short-term and long-term strategies to enhance storage capacity for agricultural commodities.
The prime minister said that the agricultural development would primarily benefit farmers and rural areas and also emphasised collaboration among experts to develop the sector on modern lines.
He directed to utilize agricultural zoning and value chain strategies to boost agricultural exports and introducing agricultural technology tailored to the needs of small landholdings, besides using integrated digital platforms to provide farmers with access to new agricultural information.
During the meeting, proposals were presented to the prime minister regarding agricultural reforms, particularly focusing on increasing agricultural production, improving infrastructure, establishing simple and sustainable regulations for a business-friendly environment, and ensuring easy access to loans for farmers.
It was told that National Agriculture Innovation and Growth Action Plan focused on increasing farmers’ income, enhancing production, and implementing reforms in the right direction.
The prime minister was told that the measures were being taken to establish secure storage facilities for agricultural commodities and that a program for easy loans to farmers would be launched soon.
Like other countries, Pakistan can also support farmers financially by creating a simple and transparent loan system, and artificial intelligence can be used to effectively increase per-acre yield.
