PESHAWAR
\nIn a significant move to revitalize Pakistan\u2019s ailing agricultural sector, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has recently announced capacity building of agriculture graduates that was widely hailed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nThe initiative includes sending of1000 agriculture graduates to China to help modernize the country\u2019s agricultural research institutions and increase agriculture production.
\nSimilarly, 300 selected graduates are being sent to China for a 3-month training program in the first phase and 400 graduates to undergo a 6-month training program in second phase followed by the remaining 300 graduates who will participate in a 3-month training program in the final phase.
\nThe package also prioritizes research and development, encouraging the adoption of modern farming techniques and climate-resilient crops.
\n\u201cFinally, someone is thinking about the farmers and young agriculture graduates,\u201d says Riazul Haq, a wheat grower from Nowshera. The training of young agriculture graduates in China alone could help combating climate change challenges and save thousands of rupees being spent on pesticides and fertilizers each season after capacity building of agriculture graduates, he said.
\nHe said a notable feature of the intiative is its focus on empowering young graduates, who make up the backbone of the country\u2019s agriculture but often lack the resources to compete internationally due to financial constraints.
\nThe government has already announced plans for interest-free loans, crop insurance schemes, and training programs to help them transition to modern agriculture practices.
\nExperts believe that if implemented effectively, the historic initiative could transform rural livelihoods and reduce Pakistan\u2019s dependency on food imports.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great step in the right direction,\u201d says Professor Dr. Muhammad Naeem, an agriculture economist and former Chairman Economics Department at University of Peshawar.
\nHe said the recent unusual hailstorms alongwith rains have caused negative effects on the standing wheat crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nThe hailstorms on one side caused substantial damages to solar panels while on otherside affected standing wheat crop in parts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, urging KP Govt to provide compensation to the affected farmers.
\nHe said the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif\u201ds landmark intiative came on a right time after climate challenges has started negative implications on agriculture.
\n\u201cArable land is shrinking due to its overuse for the non-agricultural purposes \u2014 like transport projects, infrastructure development, new settlement patterns and establishing industries closer to water resources.\u201d
\nHe said the glaciers were melting fast due to global warming with increase chances of floods as evident of 2022 in Swat in future.
\nFurthermore, he said that cultivable land is diminishing due to overgrazing of livestock in KP which tramples the soil squeezing out air, water and nutrients.
\nHe said Govt needs to develop agriculture as environment friendly to meet the food demand of Pakistanis which is expected to rise by 35% in the year 2030.
\n\u201cAgriculture accounts for 25% of Pakistan\u2019s GDP. The country is one of the world\u2019s top producers of food crops and fruits. Nevertheless, its productivity remains insufficient for domestic as well as commercial needs due to population explosion,\u201d said Dr Naeem.
\nHe said warmer temperatures can disturb the process of pollination at the time plants bloom and air pollution affects the photosynthesis process in plants and increases crop sensitivity to various diseases.
\nHe said climate change was negatively impacting the quality of water in lakes, rivers and other wetlands which further disturbed eco-system and is affecting coastal communities already stressed by pollution, warming marine waters and ocean acidification.
\nThe diverse range of crops should be encouraged to minimise environmental degradation by using holistic approach of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR In a significant move to revitalize Pakistan\u2019s ailing agricultural sector, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has recently announced capacity building of agriculture graduates that was widely hailed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The initiative includes sending of1000 agriculture graduates to China to help modernize the country\u2019s agricultural research institutions and increase agriculture production. Similarly, 300 selected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-473208","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n