Industrialists and progressive growers in Pakistan view corporate farming as a positive step towards revitalizing the agricultural sector. They emphasize the need for policies that establish market prices for agricultural inputs and commodities, alongside subsidies to support farmers. Rising production costs and fluctuating crop prices pose challenges to farmers’ livelihoods and the government’s reputation, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.
To drive agricultural development, stakeholders advocate for a green revolution, focusing on strategic crop selection based on land suitability. With declining international wheat prices, there’s a call to shift towards cultivating commodities like palm oil and reduce reliance on water-intensive crops like sugarcane. Redirecting resources towards valuable food crops such as cotton is also proposed.
Also Read: Farmers Urge Sindh to Commence Wheat Purchasing
Policymaking, including the agriculture development policy, should be decentralized to ensure stability and credibility, independent of changes in government leadership. Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry praises the government’s corporate farming policy but stresses the need for national seed and agriculture development policies. He highlights the importance of data collection to prevent policy biases favoring large landowners.
Adeel Siddiqui, President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggests making wasteland cultivable through corporate farming, prioritizing local investors over foreign ones. Clear policy guidelines and addressing water concerns are crucial for the success of this initiative.
Nabi Bux Sathio, Senior Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture, discusses the suitability of corporate and cooperative farming for different landholdings. He suggests utilizing public department lands for corporate farming to meet seed requirements and enhance food security in Sindh.
