Muhammad Saleem

Supportive policies, modern education and adoption of latest technology can help farmers reduce their reliance on use of chemical fertilizers, ensure availability of organically produced food commodities to consumers, and transition to profitable and sustainable practices. “Our farmers still believe that the more the use of chemical fertilizer the higher the yield. But they are wrong, and due to this misconception, they heavily rely on chemical fertilizers, particularly urea. Unfortunately, they are unaware that heavy reliance on chemicals is leading to soil degradation and enhancing their production costs,” said Dr Khalid, an agricultural scientist. Talking to WealthPK, he said chemicals were also reducing water retention. Besides, he said farmers were also facing financial crunch as rising prices of fertilizers were eating into their profits. Shedding light on the specific strategies farmers can adopt to reduce fertilizer use without compromising yields, Khalid said they must go for soil testing before using fertilizers.

It had been observed that the majority of farmers were applying fertilizers without knowing the actual demand of their soil, he added. He said regular soil testing could help growers apply just the right amount of nutrients. He suggested farmers should go for crop rotation, which is a proven method to maintain the health of soil and increase productivity. “This approach will help them naturally retain nutrients and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.” “We lag behind in use of modern agricultural practices. Globally, precision agriculture techniques like use of GPS-guided equipment are creating a positive impact on this sector, helping farmers reduce their input costs and increase profits,” Khalid pointed out. “In Pakistan, however, we are still employing traditional cultivation practices. These old methods are not helping farmers strengthen their profits. We have to make arrangements to make the financial position of growers strong for development of agriculture,” the agriculture scientist highlighted.

Khalid said Pakistan was blessed with youth bulge, and there was a need to devise strategies that could help train young people in modern methods, enabling them to use technology efficiently for development of the agriculture sector. Highlighting technological advancements, he mentioned that soil sensors and digital soil maps could provide real-time data on soil health, enabling farmers to ascertain their soil’s needs. He said drone technology for field mapping and targeted application of inputs was transforming the agriculture sector. “Agriculture has a direct link with the weather, but many farmers are unaware of how to use modern gadgets to check weather forecasts timely.” Khalid urged agricultural scientists and the Punjab government to practically help farmers reduce their reliance on chemicals like urea. He stressed the importance of using organic fertilizers and compost to improve soil health overtime and reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers gradually.

Farhan Ahmed, a progressive farmer, said lack of awareness about alternative methods was really hitting farmers as they were finding it difficult to make both ends meet. He said diminishing incentives were discouraging children of farmers to pursue agriculture as a career. He said it's true that many farmers were stuck in a rut, using traditional practices and resisting new techniques. “They resist technologies, fearing modern methods may backfire and worsen their financial condition.” However, he emphasised that latest practices could lead to better yields and profits. Suggesting effective alternatives that can help farmers reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, Ahmed said composting was a great way to recycle farm waste and create nutrient-rich soil amendments. He said this could be done on any scale, without any sort of heavy investment. Similarly, he said vermicomposting, using earthworms to create compost, was also a productive method. The farmer said properly managing animal manure could also significantly reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.

Credit: INP-WealthPk