Mian Shahid, the chairman of Pakistan Society Watch (PSW), on Thursday said farmers deserved help to take proper decisions for reducing risks associated with their occupation.
According to a press release, Mian Shahid said the production risk is inherent in agriculture due to multiple factors including dependence on weather that can be minimised through proper intervention. “Workshops, seminars, advertisement, distant education, and road shows can enhance awareness among the rural population majority of which is directly or indirectly associated with the agriculture,” he said in a statement.
He said livestock played an important role in risk control. “It improves household welfare through reduction in income variability. Mixed farming enables rural families to decrease exposure to risk through diversification.”
“Grain prices are not advancing as fast as that of milk and meat, which is an added incentive, he said adding that sale of milk, yogurt, cheese, butter oil and lassi promises daily flow of income.”
Shahid, who is also the CEO of Saudi Pak Insurance Company, said incomplete or imperfect insurance markets always had a negative impact on the farm management.
He said the concept of incomplete insurance had been expanding while optimal risk sharing was yet to make inroads in the Pakistani market which was necessary to support farming community. PSW President Syed Makhdoom Abbas said agriculture accounted for about one-fourth of the GDP, earned about 60 per cent of export revenues in primary and processed forms, and provided employment for half of the labour force, therefore it merited proper attention.
Isolated rain predicted: Weather is expected to turn chilly in the federal capital as isolated rain and thunderstorm are likely in the twin cities during the next 24 hours.
According to the Met Office, a western disturbance, still prevailing over the upper parts of the country, is likely to move eastward during the next 24 hours, during which weather in the federal capital is likely to remain cloudy while thunderstorm is also expected during the Friday night.
The Met Office has predicted that maximum temperature on Friday morning will remain between 20°C to 22°C while the minimum temperature is expected to be 11°C to 13°C.
Officials say the depression over the central Arabian Sea is likely to weaken gradually during next 24 to 36 hours.
During last 24 hours, snowfall has also been recorded in the hilly areas of the country which has decreased the temperature in the capital.
With the arrival of winter, snack sellers have started setting up stalls to provide coffee, soup, kehwa, hot samosas, pakoras, jalebi and fish snacks to the people to enjoy the chill in weather.
The nature has blessed the country with four different seasons and all of these have various elements for enjoyment. “I always enjoyed an evening stroll and hot soup in misty weather as it attracts me a lot,” Shazia, a workingwoman at the I-8 Park, said.
The shopping centres have replaced the summer variety with winter outfits and displayed sweaters, jackets, warm clothes and coat shoes.
