We live in a society where 67 percent of our total population earn its livelihood through agriculture. Our farmers toil day and night in their fields but earn nothing. This is why the youth in villages are disillusioned about their future and have started migrating from their villages to nearer cities. This migration not only increases the burden of population in cities but also lessens the labour force in villages.
The apathy of our government is worsening the situation. In our neighbouring agrarian countries like India, governments not only provide technical assistance to farmers but also give loans on very low interest for seed, pesticides, herbicides etc. In many countries, farmers are exempted from the charges of electricity used for agrarian purposes.
In our country, the prevailing discouraging situation demands the following ameliorative reforms immediately.
Government should announce loan on low interest for small land owners, erect agriculture academy in every union council and give free of cost technical assistance to illiterate farmers.
This development process can be made faster by allotting land to agricultural graduates. Besides, government should promote small industry related to agriculture like poultry, dairy etc in villages. Only a healthy and literate labour force can perform efficiently, so it should make obligatory for every teacher and doctor to start his job from village.
Our policy makers should keep in mind that prosperous villages mean prosperous Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD NADEEM
Lahore