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Moderated conference on rural advisory services for family farms: 1-18 December 2014

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Wed, 17 Dec 2014 12:29:55 +0100
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My name is Shahid Sheikh, retired from the agrochemicals industry in Pakistan. I am now working as freelance agriculture consultant and promoting sustainable agriculture through Good Agricultural Practices and Organic Farming System voluntarily. 



The hosting of this e-mail conference by FAO on “Tailoring Rural Advisory Service to Family Farms” must be appreciated in view of food security challenges. 

 

Family Farms: 



The concept of the family farm is not popular in our situation but all farms are owned by a family head, either an owner holds large farmland area but land is divided into different members of family and all agricultural operations are done by staff/farm workers. While owners of medium farm holdings, the land is also divided among the family members and children. In case of smallholders, one member owns the land and manages all agricultural operations on that land, family members may join him in work in free time, in the case of children after school if there is facility near to farm and wife or family women also joins after homework. 



In Pakistan, the following is the farm size holding and their contribution in cultivation;

 

Size of Farms in Acres ……..No. of Farms (%) ……………  Cultivated Area (%)

1- Less than 12.5                     85%                                          47 % 

2- 12.5 -25                                10 %                                         27 %

3- 25-50                                      4%                                                 17 % 

4- 50-100                                     1%                                                8 %

5- 100 and above                  Below 1%                                         



The small farmers are the backbone of agriculture in most countries, including Pakistan, but no importance has been given to improve the life style. There is a need to improve their livelihood through investment in training for innovative practices and soft credit facilities to small holders  for purchase of seed, fertilizer pesticides and equipment used in farming.                 



Agriculture in Pakistan is facing major challenges due to climate change, energy shortage, land degradation, water scarcity and untimely monsoon and devastating heavy floods disturbing the life and infrastructure of the rural areas. Well planned and established infra-structure contributes significantly towards the improvement of livelihoods of the population as well as welfare and prosperity through increase economic activity.

 

Here, I would like to address the 7 questions in Section 4 of the conference background document.

 

Question 4.1 What are the unique characteristics or features of rural advisory services for different types of family farms?



As mentioned in Section 3 of the conference background document, there are the same three categories of farmers in Pakistan also. The small farmers are increasing in our country as the lands are dividing. So, there are large numbers of small farmers who hold 4 acres of land only. Focusing more on land, crop production and low yield problems, the man behind the plough is always ignored. Most of the farmers are illiterate, poor and ignorant. These small farmers do not get any financial support from bank credit facilities to purchase inputs like seeds, pesticides, fertilizers etc. Additionally, a large area of land is owned by feudal and the farmers who work on their lands, are just tenants. 

      

Question 4.2 What are the current gaps in rural advisory services for smallholder family farms?



At the moment, there is no such organized rural advisory service for any category of farms except agriculture extension services from the Agriculture Department from all provinces. Large farmers or high medium farmers influence the medium and small holder in their practices.

 

According to views expressed by farmers, the Agricultural Extension Department of Government is not providing quality services. The staff in the Department do not have adequate knowledge on innovative technology and also no dedication to the cause of food security and welfare of farmers. Another point to be considered is the lack of mobility equipment for the staff of agricultural extension to offer services at the place of farmers. 

     

As for rural support program, it cannot be run without the support of government and universities offering courses in agriculture. In my opinion, the services of final year students of agricultural colleges and universities as internship will be much important for the compliance of their degree program. Another important point to be considered - this task must be given to dedicated and sincere officials for implementation. 

 

There is communication gap between farmers and government officials responsible for extension services, specific research findings benefiting the farmers are not delivered in appropriate manner.



Electronic media is the best means of communication in rural areas broadcast the programmes related to the new agricultural techniques and day to day forecasting for crop requirement in their area with the help of qualified experts.

 

Question 4.3 What role can producer organizations play in tailoring rural advisory services for family farms?



Producer organizations can arrange education and training programs for their members, can prepare projects for the development of infrastructure to ease marketing of their produce such as road network, energy resources, research activity to develop plant propagation material with the help of agricultural scientists, can negotiate with banks for affordable farm credit facility, crop insurance, innovation practices for value addition, protection of environment as well as social work for family health and welfare.

 

The services offered by companies selling fertilizers, pesticides and seeds can be availed of giving them additional task to support rural development and education of youth with their support.

 

In my opinion, government must ensure an effective rural extension service to the farmers in collaboration with farmers association at the village level, this can play an important role in setting the goal and achieving the task. 

 

Question 4.4 Are there regional specificities regarding rural advisory services for family farms?



In Pakistan conditions, agricultural extension services are a provincial subject but their services are not efficiently delivered in all areas. Only the Punjab province is better organized than three other provinces due to management at top level. In the Punjab province, the Agriculture Department has activated a toll free helpline to resolve the emergent problems of farmers and also an additional SMS helpline from any cellular phone. I cannot say how many farmers have benefited from this helpline and how much these services are effective and solving the problem of farmers.

 

Radio programs also broadcast in the Punjab province, providing guidance to farmers as compared to other provinces or region. In Punjab, there are 27059 villages and total farming families are 3.8 million, out which 3.67 million families have less than 12.5 acres.

 

Question 4.5 How to improve the outreach and impact of rural advisory services?



Pakistan agriculture needs a major transformation if it has to significantly contribute towards the improvement of livelihoods of the rural population as well as macroeconomic activity for welfare and prosperity. Pakistan agriculture and food security concerns remain high on the policy agenda at the national level. Due to concerted actions, the performance of agriculture has been encouraging with growth of 2.1 percent during 2013-14.

 

Government must ensure quality agricultural research to enhance productivity and good agricultural practices for value addition for the domestic and international market. Dedicated team of experts for rural advisory with communication facilities are the basic requirement.                                                                                                                           

 

Question 4.6 What strategies are needed at the national/state level to enhance rural advisory services for family farms?



The rural population is at risk from disaster of climate change, which must be considered to improve the rural advisory services as well developing infra-structure on self-help basis by providing financial and technical support from experts. There is need to establish rural infrastructure for accelerated agricultural growth which may help in minimizing poverty and provides the farmers a required level of  services for better livelihoods. There must be the well-intended and focused efforts by the government to exploit maximum benefit from this sector. The ultimate objective is food security and achieving self-sufficiency in nutritious grains/staple food. It depends upon prosperity of a large fragment of community that revolves around agriculture that requires timely and adequate inputs, ensures better environment for sustainable economic growth. Government must try to modernize the agriculture sector by introducing innovation, developing resources, education and training of farmers, exchange of information from quality research around the regional countries to increase production which in turn may help in achieving sustainable economic growth. 



Question 4.7 How can family farmers be best involved in formulating policies relevant to rural advisory services for family farms?



There is no say of the small farmers or role in formulating policies in our condition. Sometimes farmers do not get return on their investment or they performed labour work to cultivate their land. For this purpose, there must be cooperative associations, dedicated members and strong membership to force the government.

 

Pakistan’s agriculture sector involves 43.7 percent of the labour force that produces their own food needs and ensures availability of food for the rest of nation and value-added activities. The potential role for agriculture in development is to reduce poverty and drive growth for countries whose economies are agriculture-based. Growing population size requires agriculture growth compatible to meet required level of healthy and safe food. Government must ensure quality agricultural research to enhance productivity and good agricultural practices for value addition for the domestic and international market. 



There is need  to meet the challenge of transition in agriculture from traditional to modern farming techniques, based on adequate availability of inputs like certified seeds, balanced use of fertilizers, mechanization, agricultural credit and opportunities of investment in agricultural research. The achievement of better productivity requires efficient utilization of water resources while the static cropping pattern requires serious attention as well. The adverse impact of climatic change on productivity needs to be countered through adaptation and mitigating measures based on innovations and diversification by inculcating farming community to adopt advanced techniques. The way forward is to raise the yield of crops along with livestock and fisheries production, and improve the agro-based industrial value addition. The improved road and communication infrastructure in rural areas has facilitated the farmers to tap more income from production cycle of crops, livestock and perishable items (vegetables and fruits) through improved supply chain.                                                                                                                                                                  



Shahid H. Sheikh

AGROSOL PAKISTAN

Agriculture Consultant 

Karachi 

Pakistan

Tel: Mobile: 0092-300 -82 33 284 

Tel / Fax: ( 0092-213 ) 461 3042

Skype ID: ShahidSheikh15

e-mail: agrosol (at) ymail.com



1- Member Technical Committees on Bioenergy & Environment, Agriculture & Food, Chemical Division ( Pesticides & Fertilizers), Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA),

2- Member ISO 13065 Project Committee-248 on "Sustainable Criteria on Bioenergy"

3- Member Stake Holder Committees,  GLOBAL GAP

Ex- Sales & Technical Manager Agro Products BASF, Germany & SANDOZ, Switzerland in Pakistan and 

Ex- Divisional Head Zarkaasht,Agri & Irrigation Division Dadex Eternit Ltd. 

Ex-Management Trainee AOTS Japan



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