The Explorer: Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2411-0132, Vol-1, Issue (3):82-87 www.theexplorerpak.org
APATHY OF GOVERNMENT AND AGRICULTURAL INCONGRUENCE IN SAIGOLABAD, PAKISTAN Anwar Ul Haq1, Mahwish Zeeshan2, Farooq Abdullah3, Mehwish Ashrif4 Anthropologist, Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 2Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 3University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 3Anthropologist, Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Corresponding Author: Anwar Ul Haq PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Anwarulhaq21@yahoo.com 1
Abstract: The paper deals with the role of government in improving agricultural economy. The aim of paper is to emphasize government measures to reduce prices of agricultural goods in improvements of production and develop awareness programs for the farmers. These types of facilities will be helpful in increasing the yield and fulfilling the country’s need as well as these crops may also be exported to the other countries to earn foreign exchange which will increase the national income of Pakistan. The locale of the study was Saigolabad, Chakwal. The objective of the study was to examine the government role in improving the agricultural economy. Both qualitative and quantitative research design was employed. Snow ball sampling was applied on the sample size 100. Data was collected by using different anthropological techniques. Quantitative collected data was analyzed through SPSS and the percentages and frequencies were tabulated along the discussion. The qualitative collected data described thematically .
Key Words: Awareness Programs, Subsidized Seeds, Fertilizers and Medicines INTRODUCTION It is worth essential to perceive that Pakistan in the wake of getting freedom in 1947 is currently one of the crowded nations of the world. She claims to be a farming nation yet then again imports rural items even wheat from abroad. This circumstance suggests a considerable measure of conversation starters that the primary accentuation of the nation is on agriculture yet at the same time level of autonomy in agricultural necessities has not been accomplished (Chaudhry and Chaudhry 2011). Agricultural subsidies can take numerous structures; however the most widely recognized device is the exchange of financial rights, by and large as immediate money by government to farmers. The fundamental target of this money related backing to lessen creation costs, which are mostly as data sponsorship, for instance, inorganic fertilizers or pesticides, watering system, power, credit, seed or pay more cost for the farm yield as contrast with the first market cost to give monetary help to the agriculturists extraordinarily little scale farmers (Lingard 2002). Agricultural Policies Worldwide The United States branch of farming gives money endowment to their farmers and managers of farm area ranges from 10 billion to 30 billion US dollars every year (Edwards 2009). U.S. Division of farming
additionally offer appropriations for yield protection, advertising backing and other rural work, however there is a requirement for the backing of little agriculturists to expand their creation and expectations for everyday comforts. New farming arrangement 2004 of Chinese Government farmers would be encouraged by giving direct installment for grain development, farm equipment's, and excellent grain and soya bean (Derpsch, et al. 2010). Around 25 billion dollars were assigned for the system by the Chinese government. The legislature likewise chose to create provincial base like streets, power era, and watering system to expand their expectations for everyday comforts. India has made numerous different moves to prosper their farming like giving sponsorships in rural merchandise (Gokhale and Sohoni 2012). The government is spending a tremendous plan on the power sponsorships for farming. It is one of the real enter sponsorships given by the Indian government in farming part. The government of Malawi presented a homedeveloped sponsorship program for little holders' farmers. Malawi's agrarian data appropriation project give a convincing illustration of a homedeveloped instrument to encourage extraordinary utilization of seed, fertilizer and other rural inputs, which come about more production(Chibwana, et
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al. 2012). Government of Myanmar coordinated country advancement programs. In such projects directed credit, agrarian credit and provincial credit for target recipients like the little scale farmers (Riehl 2008). Farmers input support programme (FISP) was run in (MwembeshiChipwili), Chi-bombo district of Zambia. In this program subsidies were given to the small farmers in order to support them (Bryceson 1999). Government of Indonesia gives sponsorships to all farmers and it has an incredible effect on rice creation (Armas, et al. 2010). Sponsored manures utilized as a part of satisfactory amounts and have a positive and critical effect on rice yields. Government of Sri Lanka gives compost appropriations to over four decades. The endowments composts have a positive effect on rice creation and henceforth the rice is one of the principle crops developed by farmers and has a vast partake in economy of Sri Lanka (Ekanayake 2006). Mexican government spearheaded two propelled projects that incorporate trade move conspires in for cold hard currency the most recent decade named PROGRESA, which is an against neediness plan at household level directed at perpetual rustic destitution, and PROCAMPO, a plan intended to encourage farmers fiscally at the expanding cost impacts on NAFTA (Gautam 2008). Agricultural Policies in Pakistan The agriculture sector is playing a major part in the economy of Pakistan (Hamid, et al. 1990). At government level the farming community is facilitated by giving them subsidies in different aspects of this sector. Agricultural subsidies are financial assistance to farmers and agricultural companies to support their income, manage the supply chain of agricultural). Pakistan holds a great history of agricultural inputs subsidy products, and affect the cost and supply of these goods. (Chaudhry, et al. 1995). These subsidies providing on the agricultural inputs like fertilizers, insecticides, irrigation water, tube well installations, seeds, operation and purchase of farm machineries like tractor, harvester, thresher etc. Rosegrant Government of Pakistan Announcing Rs 21 billion subsidy to farmer community for increasing per acre yield as well as to decrease their cost of production for the production of agriculture commodities, addressed by the federal minister for food and agriculture Sikandar Hayat Bosan on Saturday and (Rosegrant and Dick 1996). The vast majority of farmers had subsistence level of agricultural creation with pitiful assets which did not permit them to expand their gainfulness (Haq,
et al. 2014). Without government intercession it appeared difficult to counter the issues of farmers. There was no fitting worth plan of government. Government may have set sensible expenses of agrarian things to make the expectation for everyday comforts of agriculturists anyway they are stayed away from the business part costs (Haq, et al. 2015). MATERIALS AND METHODS The locale of the study was Saigolabad, Chakwal. Chakwal was given the status of Tehsil head quarter by the British in 1881 and functioned as a subdivision of Jehlum district for more than a century until it was awarded the status of district in 1985. The District has a total population of 1,083,725 spread over four subdivisions of Chakwal, Talagang, Choa Saiden Shah and KallarKahar with further subdivision into 68 union councils. Saigolabad, a small village in district Chakwal, is located across Jhelum road. It is situated at a distance of 18 kilometer from Chakwal city. Data collection was done through the exploratory method while using main techniques of participant observation, interview guide, in-depth interviews, and key informants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table. 1: Occupation of the Respondents Gender Frequency Percentage Male 100 100% Female 0 0% Total 100 100%
Table 1 shows the gender of the respondents. All hundreds respondents were male who were attached with the profession of agriculture. Females were not attached with agricultural sector in that area. A reason may be that this occupation is pretty tough for the females, but this may not necessarily be the one reason to it since a major contribution in agricultural sector is by the female in other parts of the country. Better literacy rate and better socioeconomic status of the families may be a reason to it. Males were very cooperative with female they prefer female to work in their houses. In agricultural sector mostly men are preferred to work because they have work hard in their fields from dawn till dusk. Table. 2: Distribution of Family Structure Family Frequency Percentage Nuclear 48 48% Joint 52 52% Total 100 100%
Table 2 shows the family structure of village Saigolabad. 48 percent respondents were living in nuclear family system whereas 52 percent
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respondents were living in joint family system. Respondents told that in earlier time’s people were living in joint and extended family system and that was a plus point for agriculture because agriculture sector needs manpower. Promising nuclear family system is affecting agricultural economy because mostly married couples migrate to cities and their land remains barren, since urbanization was increasing agricultural sector was also decreasing and that was badly affecting the agricultural economy of Chakwal. Table. 3: Distribution of Respondents According to Income Income Frequency Percentage 2000-7000 59 59% 8000-13000 18 18% 14000-19000 10 10% 20000-25000 7 7% 25000 above 6 6% Total 100 100%
The table 3 demonstrates the monthly income of respondents. 59 percent respondents were earning 2000-7000, 18 percent were earning 8000-13000, 10 percent was earning 14000-19000, 7 percent were earning 20000-25000 and rest of 6 percent was earning 25000 and above. The income table shows that mostly people were poor who were attached with agriculture and lived hand to mouth life. Required Initiatives on the Part of Govt., in Saigolabad, Chakwal The following initiatives should be taken by the government to uplift the agricultural economy of Saigolabad, Chakwal. The government thus needs to make such policies which can increase the agriculture sector such as provide subsidies, loans at low interest rate and adopt new variety of seeds, fertilizers, medicines and provide proper guidance to the farmers how to sow and harvest the crops effectively and efficiently. Supplying of subsidized Seeds by Government in Improvement of Production All respondents said that there was no doubt that subsidized and superior seeds increased the agricultural production. If government would provide subsidized seeds to all large and small farmers, agricultural production could be much better because most of the poor farmers did not afford to purchase expensive seeds. High yielding variety seed was not available at reasonable price. So, farmers had to depend upon low quality of seeds that caused reduction in total production and most of the farmers sow their own seeds separated from the crops at the time of
harvesting. Government should provide High yielding variety (HYV) seed at minimum price in this case, but unfortunately government never intent provided such type of facilities to farmers. Agriculture Needs Awareness Programs by Government of Pakistan Respondents described that government did not launch any awareness programs that might be helpful for farmers in familiarizing with agricultural knowledge, tools and machinery. It was essential on the part of government to provide basic knowledge of agriculture to all farmers. In the research area, most of the farmers were illiterate and they needed more attention of government and other stake holders in trainings and guidance. Hardly few farmers had primary, middle and matric qualification. So, they faced problems especially when they cultivate crops. They did not have agricultural knowledge that how to use medicines against diseases and were using herbs to counter the plant diseases. They were totally unaware to plant diseases so that all affected agriculture economy of Chakwal. GOP Measures to Alleviate Poverty of Farmers Respondents described that government needed to provide subsidized fertilizers; seed, medicines, machinery and diesel to all large and small farmers along with effective system of irrigation as Indian and china government facilitate their farmers. Farmers must be provided the agricultural knowledge and must be trained in making best utilization of the provided equipment. When they would utilize these goods in their lands there would be a reasonable output which could raise the socioeconomic status of farmers and contribute the national economy. This is the government and the stakeholders who could make efforts to stabilize the agriculture growth where farmer’s financial position could be better and they could grow crops effectively. Government must also provide loan schemes without interest to all farmers which they could use for agricultural purpose and ultimately the production would increase. Those were the basic things that government needed to do for the betterment of agriculture. Government Measures to Reduce Prices of Agricultural Goods in Improvements of Production Respondents described that small and middle class farmers were attached with agriculture sector. Most of them were very poor having low income. They did not have enough money to purchase expensive agricultural goods. If government will provide subsidized quality agricultural goods and tools which could change their life. Government
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should set subsidized stores and ensure availability of machines at the door step. Even small and poor farmers could also built their lands and earn money. Incentives of Agriculture Production by GOP Respondents described that access to all agricultural goods and tools depended on availability of capital. First of all government needed to provide soft loan because when farmers had credit they would not face any difficulty to purchase agricultural goods. Lack of financial position forced farmers to leave their land barren that was not good sign for agriculture. In this way agricultural sector was going down and agricultural economy was badly affected. Life Standards of Farmers can be increased Respondents described that undoubtedly better agricultural production could change the living standard of farmers. They could live their lives happily and could bring improvements in their daily life. They would educate their children properly and their nutritional requirements could be better. They would not have any difficulty to purchase agricultural goods. They could easily use labor in their fields and access to market could be easier. There would an increase in the income of the farmers due to development of agricultural sector. It would improve their living standard by constructing better houses, enjoying luxuries of life, television, computer, mobile, motor-cycles and a lot of modern facilities. So, growth of agricultural sector will cause improvement in the standard of living of the rural population of Chakwal. Access of Road to Fields can Uplift Agriculture Farmers illustrated that roads played important role in transportation of agricultural commodities to market. Rural infrastructure like, roads, storages, transports etc. were insufficient to meet the requirement of growth of agriculture. Not only size and length of roads from field to market was shorter but they were also in poor condition and will come out of it. The villages have no paved roads at all and roads were not according to standard. So they faced acute difficulty in shifting products to market in time and ensure reasonable price. Their access to market was tough. Government was needed to reduce these problems by constructing roads and also reduce prices of diesel for farmers because 70% population of the country is directly or indirectly related with agriculture. It means agriculture sector played vital role in our economy. Provision of Tractors to increase Agricultural Production Respondents described that the use of tractors in agricultural sector was multipurpose. Tractor was
used for different purposes. For example they used blade with tractor and cutting crops. They used tractor to carry crops from one place to other place. Similarly, thrashers could not run without tractor, so the role of tractor was very vital. If government would provide tractors on installment to farmers then the agricultural sector could be developed. Provision of Subsidized Fertilizers by Government Farmers believed that they were poor and that it was not possible for them to purchase expensive fertilizers. If government had provided subsidies fertilizers to small and poor farmers then they could have also used fertilizers and ultimately their crops would have developed. In this way agricultural production could be increased. The only large farmers could use fertilizers because their financial position was better, besides small farmers used goober to fertile their lands. Abolishing Feudal System can raise Living Standard of Farmers Respondents argued that living standard of farmers could be improved by eradication of dominant feudalism. The farmers of high intelligence and courage had been suppressed by the powerful landlords. If this system is abolished the living standard of farmers would certainly improve. It could be done by proper management of the government and stake holders. The concerned authority could distribute occupied land among deserving farmers evenly. The ownership of these distributed pieces of land should have been given to the farmers. The farmers should have given freedom of speech to express and share their ideas and contribute effectively to the economy of the nation through agricultural development. They should have been given decision making power as well; all these revolutionary steps could help in building the living standard of the farmers. Enforcement of Agricultural Reforms after Diminishing Feudal System The respondents told that the fall of feudalism could have helped farmers to introduce immense reforms in agriculture sector. It could have been revolutionized through proper land reforms and by introducing apt policies meeting current situations. Those planes and policies should have been plotted and design under the supervision of a group of experts and that would have used to educate the poor farmers, so that they could have eradicated orthodoxy form of agriculture that had been exercised by dominant feudal class since ages. The farmers should have been the part of decision making and their opinions should have been respected and entertained in every matter
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regarding agriculture. Hence, it seemed easier to introduce reforms in agriculture on large scale to diminish feudalism but it is the fact that reforms cannot be made in the Pakistan because the ruler class is dominating the agricultural sector at large scale. CONCLUSION It has been found through profound study that people who are attached with agriculture are leading a life in poverty and misery as compared to those represents other sectors of employment. Agriculture sector in Saigolabd, Chakwal have a wide scope because most of land is fertile so it is necessary to adopt the modern techniques and using of variety of new seeds to improve the crops. The government needs to provide the subsidies in seeds, fertilizers and medicines and develop awareness programs for the farmers. The government thus needs to make such policies which can increase the agriculture sector such as provide loans at low interest rate and provide proper guidance to the farmers how to sow and harvest the crops effectively and efficiently. These types of facilities will be helpful in increasing agricultural production. REFERENCES Armas, Enrique Blanco, Camilo Gomez Osorio, and Blanca Moreno-Dodson 2010 Agriculture Public Spending and Growth: the Example of Indonesia. 9-10. Bryceson, Deborah Fahy 1999 African Rural lLabour, Income Diversification and Livelihood Approaches: a Long�term Development Perspective. Review of African Political Economy 26(80): 171-189. Chaudhry, Abid Ghafoor and Hafeez ur Rehman Chaudhry 2011 Indigenous Farming Practices and Sustainable Rural Development: A Case of Indigenous Agricultural Practices in a Punjabi Village of Sheikhupura District. Journal of Social Sciences 5 (2): 1-2. Chaudhry, M. Ghaffar , Shamim A. Sahibzada, and Abdul Salam 1995 Agricultural Input Subsidies in Pakistan: Nature and Impact [with Comments]. The Pakistan Development Review: 711-722.
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