akistan, struggling for stability in exports, is still identified as an agricultural economy. However, it has yet to fully harness its agricultural potential. Without adequate growth in agriculture sector, the ambition of aggressive economic growth in Pakistan is unrealistic.

Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of the national economy. A large part of the population is dependent on this sector. It contributes about 24 percent of the GDP and accounts for nearly half of the labour force. It is also the largest source of foreign exchange earningsi.

With 30.5 million hectares, about 47 percent of the land is under agriculture, higher than the global average of 38 percent. Pakistan is one of the world’s largest producers of food. It ranks 8th globally in farm output, according to the listing of countries by GDP sector composition.

Imports of wheat and wheat flour, vegetable oils, pulses, tea and refined sugar should be unacceptable. In certain years vegetable oils, wheat and flour, have constituted as much as 80 percent of agricultural imports.

Pakistan has a coastline of about 1,046 kilometres and enough fishery resources for a start.

Globally, the United States, China, India and Russia consistently rank as top producers of major cereal and vegetable crops. China leads in rice........

© The News on Sunday