Govt taking steps to maximize farmers’ welfare

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi Tuesday said the government was taking various measures to maximize welfare of the farmers. Pakistan's economy was based on agriculture as major chunk of its population directly or indirectly relied on agronomics, he said during a briefing on ' new agriculture methods' by delegates from the Australian High Commission to members of the Parliament here at Parliament House, according to a press release.

The Deputy Speaker said agriculture sector in the country had been facing constraints related to soil management, irrigation systems, climatic conditions and salinity of surface and groundwater. He appreciated the Australian government's technical cooperation and assistance in advancing agricultural development in Pakistan.

He said that Australia and Pakistan could share useful insights to counter the common challenges related to agriculture sector, including inefficiency in water use and low economic returns to the community and the country from irrigation investments. The visiting delegation was led by Deputy High Commissioner Jurek Juszczyk. Dr Evan Christen, Project Manager, Australian Centre for International Agriculture Reseatch ( ACIAR) briefed the parliamentarians about Australia's continuous assistance in agriculture sector in Pakistan initiated in 1980s. He said that recently Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (2005-2015) has been completed in Pakistan with the coordination of experts and research agencies from both the countries.