Muhammad Saleem

Small-scale farmers are of the view that the distribution of 9,500 green tractors by the government will help them increase agricultural productivity. Ahtsham, a farmer, said that they are facing increasing challenges due to climate change as well as surging costs of input, electricity and fuel. He said farmers are being used as a cash cow by exploiters, and nobody seems ready to resolve their issues on genuine grounds. However, he said it's a silver lining that the Punjab government had planned to ease the issues of growers by offering them tractors at subsidized rates.

“The issues facing the growers' community are so monumental that this facility of green tractors may seem insignificant in comparison. However, every little bit helps, and we take comfort in knowing that someone has made an effort to alleviate the farmers’ suffering,” he said. It's a step in the right direction because the tractor is an indispensable component for farmers across the globe as its efficiency prepares the soil for cultivation. He said poor plowing can lead to a downward spiral of low productivity, which means lower income for farmers and less produce for consumers.

He said the government completed the entire legal procedures and started to distribute the tractors among farmers. “I hope that next year, productivity will be on the higher side due to the effective and powerful tractors. It's like giving farmers a shot in the arm,” he said. “It's the responsibility of policymakers to devise a strategy to keep an eye on the production of the farmers benefiting from this scheme. This approach will help the government to devise future course of action to facilitate the development of the farming community,” he suggested.

He said the opportunists will exploit the illiterate farmers if the policymakers fail to keep their finger on the pulse, so they need to stay on top of things. Dr. Ahmed of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, said that farmers are leaving no stone unturned to fulfil the food requirements of the nation. It's the responsibility of the government to lend them a helping hand so that they can battle the emerging challenges. He emphasized that simply providing tractors at subsidized rates is not enough; they also need climate-resistant seeds and affordable inputs.

He noted that climate change is altering cultivation patterns, and more changes will occur in the future. “We need to prepare our farmers and agricultural scientists to confront climate challenges. Without proper preparation, our agriculture sector will not be able to fight against the rapidly surging challenges.”  He said that as an agricultural scientist, he knows that this initiative of the government will help modernize agriculture in Punjab, increase the productivity of the farmers, and strengthen their financial positions, hitting three birds with one stone.

However, he pointed out that the government should expand the scheme by increasing the number of tools. It's an established fact that the agriculture sector will not yield ample results without adopting modern technology, he added. He said that the government should launch awareness programs for farmers to sensitize them about the importance of modern tools. However, Zafar Ahmed, a farmer, said that it's wrong to claim that farmers are not ready to adopt modernization.

He explained that, like businessmen, farmers are also eager for prosperity, but their financial constraints hold them back from investing in the latest gadgets. He expressed hope that green tractors will help them prepare their soils efficiently, as old tools are not producing effective results. He noted that progressive farmers are making progress by leaps and bounds. “We are willing to work hard, but the lack of latest resources is hindering our progress. The government must assist small-scale farmers to fight the emerging and existing challenges,” he suggested.

Credit: INP-WealthPk