The officials were responding to the queries raised by the members of Senate Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture & Livestock and Dairy Development, which met at the Parliament House, under the Chairmanship of Senator Syed Javed Ali Shah.

The chairman of the committee stressed the need of addressing the problems being faced by the agriculturists in the country particularly in Balochistan.

The committee members asked the Ministry of Food & Agriculture to come out with innovative solutions to the problems like water scarcity, low per acre yield, quality of fertilizers, pesticides, insectides along with issues like food processing, packaging, etc.

Senator Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that around 110 varieties of dates are grown in Balochistan but these are not being fully exported due to a number of problems.

Similarly, he said that the quality of apples and grapes being produced in Balochistan are considered to be one of the best in the world but we have to explore new markets for their export.

The ministry officials said that local authorities were not utilising the research works and studies prepared by the federal departments.

“Jafarabad was more suited for cotton crop but the locals still were growing rice,” the committee was informed.

The officials said that rice crop was not only consuming more water but the low quality of rice produced there offered less price for the farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the Committee highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between public and private sector for achieving better results in enhancing productivity especially in rice and cotton.

He said that agriculture continues to be the backbone of the country’s economy and therefore every effort should be made to reinvigorate the agriculture sector for overall development of the country’s economy.

Senator Rehmatullah Kakar, another member of the Committee said that farm to market roads have to be developed in remote areas on priority to enable the farmers to take their produce to market speedily.

Members of the Committee urged the Government to enhance investment in agriculture research and development with a view to producing disease resistant and better quality varieties of crops like cotton, rice, tobacco, etc., which have the potential to bring about a revolution in the agriculture sector.

The meeting was attended by Senator Dr. Abdul Malik, Senator Rehmatullah Kakar and Senator Syeda Sughra Imam besides senior officials of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture.