Agriculture Reforms in Zardari Era 2008 To 2013

Agriculture Reforms in Zardari Era 2008 to
2013
Presidential elections were held within three weeks after the departure of
Musharraf. Zardari vowed to pursue an unpopular campaign against tribal
militancy in Pakistan and had the support of the United States. He claimed he had
a London business school degree to satisfy a prerequisite for the presidency, but
his party did not produce a certificate. He was endorsed by the PPP and
the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the presidency. The PML-N
nominated former justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, while the PML-Q put
forth Mushahid Hussain Sayed. Zardari won a majority in the Electoral
College with 481 of 702 votes. He was elected President on 6 September 2008.
Economic Development of Agriculture

Sector in Zardari Era 2008 to 2013
Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali
Zardari on Wednesday termed the government’s agriculture relief package for
farmers a “political gimmick,” saying it was aimed only at fooling the farmers
ahead of local government polls in Sindh and Punjab.
While rejecting the bailout package, Zardari said the package was “devoid of
substance and sincerity and aimed only at deceiving the farmers,” reads
a statement issued by the PPP.
“When opposition parties, the farmers and the people were agitating for
rescuing farmers from loss, the government turned a deaf ear but as soon as the
LG polls were announced it has offered a relief package but without specifying
any source of funding.”
Criticising the federal government for neglecting the agriculture sector, Zardari

alleged it was diverting the scarce resources to politically visible projects such as
Metro bus for drawing political mileage rather than serving the interests of
people.
The co-chairman lamented the federal government had deliberately targeted

the farmers hoping to weaken the political power base of opposition parties, not
realising the enormous damage done to the country in the process.
Zardari claimed despite the negative propaganda about the performance of

Sindh government, the provincial government had not only been giving cash
support to farmers but also giving away free fertilisers and seeds following the
devastation caused by the floods in 2010.
“As a result, Sindh today is surplus in food enabling it to distribute more than
one million bags of wheat free of charge in Thar alone,” he said.
He also alleged that instead of drawing lesson from the Sindh government the
PML-N government was trying to malign the provincial government through
federal agencies in an unconstitutional manner.
On Tuesday, PM Nawaz had announced Rs341 billion agriculture relief package

for farmers, in a bid to spur sluggish growth in one of the country’s main
economic sectors.
The package includes immediate cash grants for rice and cotton farmers, cuts in
fertiliser prices, and a government scheme to pay insurance premiums for
farmers who cannot afford them. It also includes collateral guarantees for loans,
and tax breaks for the dairy, poultry and fish.
Agriculture Reforms in Sindh in 2009

The board has suggested that profitable agricultural support prices be announced
prior to the cultivation of every crop.
LARKANA Constituting an 'agriculture reforms commission' to address the issues
of farm sector has been demanded by the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB).
The SAB Vice-President, Gada Hussain Mahisar sent a letter on Saturday to
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in which he called
for setting up a 20-member commission with 50 per cent representation of
experts and farmers' representatives to formulate a plan for revitalising both
agriculture sector and agro-based industries.
The farm sector contributes 22 per cent to the GDP and a major employer in rural
areas but was neglected by almost all the governments, he contended.
The country experienced deficit in all staple foods except rice because of
defective and flawed policies while spending billion of dollars in importing these
not only increased poverty level but also raised unemployment graph and the
only solution for enhancing productivity is a long-term strategic policy, he stated.
The twin menace of corruption and commission has given rise to imperfect
policies enabling those involved in projects to pocket 60 per cent of development
budget, he claimed. This, he added, has declined the productivity and enhanced
production cost thus squeezing the poor employed in agriculture.
He called for placing agriculture after defence in budgetary allocations as hunger

and neediness would not allow one to protect the country.
A profitable agricultural support price policy prior to the cultivation of every crop
should be announced for encouraging farmers and activating the Trade
Corporation of Pakistan and Passco, he proposed.
Hailing the government's decision of building small dams, he called for giving
priority to canals, branches and water courses as it would help in saving irrigation
water loss and protect land from water logging and salinity.
The performance of Sindh Irrigation and Agriculture departments has gone down
as allocated funds remain unproductive, said SAB chief.
Action needs to be taken against manufacturers and sellers, hoarders and black-
marketers of sub-standard fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, he suggested
and sought pest-resistant certified seeds at subsidised rates along with doing
more for research work as lack of quality seed forces farmers to compromise on
quality by using admixture seed.
Gada Hussain Mahisar called for concessional loans of three per cent to farmers,
early irrigation water supply and doing away with the practice of using farm land
for housing societies.
He sent the copies of his letter to federal minister for agriculture, chairman
Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, Chief Secretary Sindh and other concerned.
Progress in Agriculture Sector

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged upon the need of reforms and
improvement in the agriculture sector to overcome country’s economic
situation.
Expressing these views on the occasion of presentation by Zari Taraqiyati Bank
(ZTB) here in Presidency on Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari urged the
intense need of progress and development in agriculture sector and increase of
electricity production.
President also stressed upon the need of massive restructuring in Zari Taraqiyati
Bank (ZTB), stressing courageous decisions, by the Bank to achieve these
objectives. Earlier, Senior Policy advisor Professor Johan Milla, Dr. Amir
Muhammad and President Zari Taraqiyati Bank (ZTB), Zaka Ashraf gave President
Zardari a detailed presentation to the President.

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Agriculture Reforms in Zardari Era 2008 to

Economic Development of Agriculture

Criticising the federal government for neglecting the agriculture sector, Zardari

The co-chairman lamented the federal government had deliberately targeted

Zardari claimed despite the negative propaganda about the performance of

On Tuesday, PM Nawaz had announced Rs341 billion agriculture relief package

Agriculture Reforms in Sindh in 2009

He called for placing agriculture after defence in budgetary allocations as hunger

Progress in Agriculture Sector

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