Ans: Pakistan has an agrarian economy. Our economic stability depends mainly
on a strong agriculture base, but unfortunately we fall in the category of
backward countries in terms of agricultural produce. This does not mean that
we lack in potential to grow. Our real problem is lack of development
planning in the field of agriculture. Our planners have, so far, made, no
substantial effort to exploit the enormous agrarian potential our country
holds. We are blessed with:
(i) Climate:
Pakistan is a land of diversity in terms of weather. We have different weather
in different regions, from extreme hot to extreme cold and from humid to
semi-humid. This diversity makes all type of cultivation possible. We can
grow almost all types of crops, grown anywhere in the world.
(ii) Variety of Landform:
We are also blessed with a variety of landform. Properties of agricultural land
vary from place to place. We have mountains, plateaus, marshy regions,
deserts, fertile planes, alluvial, loess, coastal areas and delta soils. This
variety makes it possible that almost all sorts of crops can be cultivated on
our land.
(iii) Cultivable Land:
Pakistan, of course, is a highly populated country, but it does not mean that
we do not have enough land to feed our people. Vast cultivable area of our
land is still lying barren. Experts believe that only 25 percent of Pakistan’s
cultivable land is under cultivation. Our industrial development also depends
on strong agricultural base, because most of our industries use agricultural
produce as raw material.
(iv) Agriculture Labour Force:
this population which forms our agricultural labor force depends upon
Approximately 64 percent of our population lives in rural areas. Almost all
income from agriculture. This labor is illiterate, semi-employed or
unemployed.
(v) Irrigation System:
The British rulers developed an excellent irrigation system in this land, which
is now Pakistan. This is the most extensive irrigation system in the world. We
failed to protect and develop this system properly after independence.
Expansion in irrigation system was, of course, made but this is still
insufficient and is not proportionate to our growing needs. By adopting
proper water-management techniques, this problem can be easily solved.