BEIJING, Nov. 19 (China Economic Net) - “As agriculture is the only way out for Pakistan's economy, we are trying to get the latest technology, the good practices, the best seeds available. In addition, we are working on research which should be objective oriented,” said Ehsan Ullah Tiwana, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, at a webinar held on Thursday. 

 

 

Ehsan Ullah Tiwana, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, delivers a speech at a webinar held on Thursday. 

 

Mr. Tiwana further explained that there are a lot of government institutions in Pakistan which conduct most of the research. However, the farmers at the grassroot are unable to get the benefits. 

 

“Our focus would always be on the small farmers which lack the know-how, the latest technology, the techniques and especially they are exploited by the middlemen,” he said, adding that Pakistani government is trying to roll out policies to benefit agriculture.

 

In Pakistan, the industry is mostly based on agricultural products, such as textile and sugar. This year, Pakistan imports cotton due to low yield and lack of seeds which can resist the negative effects caused by the climate change, he said.

 

Pakistan has already given $15 billion special relief to small farmers because of the pandemic. Yet in the coronavirus crisis, only agriculture sector registers a positive growth, he said, adding “that has given us advantage, and now with that advantage, textile, even sugar industries are performing very well.”