Muhammad Saleem

 Onion production in Faisalabad has taken a nosedive due to the supply of substandard seed and fertilizers.

Talking to WealthPK, Bilal Ahmed, a farmer, said from quality seed to fertilizers, everything is pricey, keeping them away. Another problem contributing to the decreased production is the uninterrupted supply of poor-quality seed and fertilizers. He said it is the government departments’ responsibility to curb the spread of spurious seeds and fertilizers in the market. However, to this day, farmers continue to struggle to obtain high-quality seed and fertilizers.

“Without quality seed and pure fertilizers, we cannot achieve the desired production. The surging input costs are a thorn in the side for small farmers who want to adopt modern techniques. We know modern approaches are imperative to achieve the desired results and profit, but we still lack such facilities due to the high cost of equipment and lack of knowledge,” he explained. Talking about the storage facilities, Bilal said farmers are still relying on traditional storage methods, which are not meeting the emerging needs. He said a significant portion of their produce is wasted due to the lack of proper storage facilities.

 He suggested that the government lend a helping hand to small-scale farmers by providing them with technical training and financial assistance. Dr. Fahad Ahmed, an agricultural expert from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, told WealthPK that climate change is wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector of Pakistan. He pointed out that Pakistani farmers are still employing outdated farming methods, lack access to quality seeds, and face poor irrigation systems. Without resolving these core issues, he warned, achieving the desired yields remains a distant dream.

He acknowledged that farmers are doing their best to meet the nation’s food requirements but they lack modern approaches crucial for battling climate change. It's not just onions; climate change will impact every crop if we keep sticking to traditional methods, he said. Dr. Fahad noted that the unexpected weather patterns, like heavy rains and droughts, are changing the cultivation practices and causing a decline in production. He said Pakistan has been slow to introduce the latest agricultural innovations to farmers.

 “Our sluggish response to climate change will severely damage the agriculture sector. We have to take this crisis head-on and equip our farmers with modern training and tools,” he said. Sensing the emerging challenges, he said collaboration among farmers, scientists, the private sector and the government is imperative. He said instead of merely raising hollow slogans, the government must fund agricultural research and ensure that the universities train a set number of farmers in modern techniques.

At the same time, he said private companies should make arrangements to provide quality seeds and equipment to farmers at affordable prices. We need a strong support system to battle climate change, and collaboration is the only key, he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk