Ans: Agriculture Potential of Pakistan:
Pakistan is basically an agricultural country and is world famous for its
agricultural production. The resources of agricultural land all over Pakistan
vary. Some areas have fertile agricultural land, excellent plains, good
climatic conditions and excellent water sources under the land surface.
Others do not have these favourable conditions. Some areas irrigate land
through rivers and tube wells, while others depend upon rainfall. Due to
these factors there is a difference in the per acre yield of different areas.
Despite natural agricultural capacity, per acre yield of most crops in Pakistan
is low. The important reasons for this are listed below:
Pakistan’s agriculture problems and measures for maximization of yield:
Reasons for low per acre average yield;
Pakistan has not been successful in achieving agricultural self sufficiency
due to backwardness. In developed countries farming is carried out through
modern machinery. In Pakistan farming is done through old and traditional
methods. This does not let the per acre average yield increase.
In Pakistan there is a vast system of irrigation but the rivers cannot supply
water to all agricultural lands which creates problems. This also affects the
per acre yield.
Natural disasters (floods, earthquakes etc), water logging and salinity, low
quality seeds and fertilizers, illiteracy amongst farmers, difficulty in obtaining
agricultural loans, and diseases afflicting corps- all affect the per acre
average yield.
Different steps to increase agricultural production:
i To develop the agricultural sector it is required that different agricultural tools
and modern machinery should be used for farming on a scientific basis. This
will-increase the national income and the country will prosper.
ii Agricultural development requires the use of good quality seeds, pesticides
and excellent fertilizers, along with human efforts and expertise.
iii The per acre yield can be increased through improvement in the river
system, and artificial and modern methods of irrigation.
iv The increase in research in the agricultural sector will also lead to increased
agricultural production.