CONVENTIONAL farming in Pakistan has been giving a rather average yield, leaving very little room for revenue generation through exports. Corporate farming coupled with requisite level of financing, smart use of available resources, technology-driven approach, training of farmers as well as selection of resilient crops may increase production.

In Pakistan, instead of bringing land reforms to create a chunk of progressive middle-class farmers and to reduce the number of big land-owners and landless farmers, a new class is being introduced which will be an amalgamation of, say, feudalism and capitalism having no cultural as well as social affinity with agriculture beyond profit maximisation. This decision is set to create alienation among the native people and negatively impact environmental conservation.

As such, the input of academic and field experts in agriculture should be invited, and international best practices be applied. The local farmers need to be involved in decision-making, and they must be equally trained to optimise the use of modern trends and technologies associated with corporate farming. Besides, financing through banking channels must be facilitated.

Corporate farming done through smart and effective indigenisation seems to be the only way to explore its true potential.

Ghulam Abbas Junejo
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024