neighboring countries Pakistan At present it is facing a huge food crisis. Earlier the shortage of flour and electricity broke the back of the common man, now the shortage of pulses has spoiled the taste of the kitchen. The situation has become such that the country has to import about 80% of its pulses from abroad. Pakistan, which once called itself agrarian, is not able to meet even its basic needs today.
Production decreased, imports increased – figures show a scary picture
The annual consumption of pulses in Pakistan is about 16.2 lakh tonnes, but domestic production is not enough to meet the needs. About 10.7 lakh tonnes of pulses have to be imported from outside every year. About 980 million dollars i.e. about 275 billion Pakistani rupees is spent on this import. It is clear that if agriculture becomes weak then the country’s pocket is directly affected.
Distance from farming, helplessness of farmers
The area under pulse cultivation is continuously decreasing. Farmers are not getting proper facilities of fertilizers, seeds and water. On top of that, inflation and costs have increased so much that farmers are running towards cash crops. Irrigation shortage and laxity of government policies have also broken the back of farming. People in the villages are saying – “Farming has now become a loss-making deal.”
Economic crisis and falling rupee
Pakistan is already struggling with economic crisis. Foreign exchange reserves are low, on top of that the Pakistani rupee is continuously weakening against the dollar. Result – pulses coming from outside are more expensive. Pulses are disappearing from the common man’s plate. The pulses which were once cheap and common have now become difficult to buy.
Weather and climate change
Disasters like unseasonal rain, extreme heat and floods caused huge damage to crops. The impact of climate change is clearly visible. The crops standing in the fields either dry up or get submerged in water. In such a situation, local production further falls.
lesson for india
India This is a big lesson for. If agriculture and local production are ignored, the situation will not take long to deteriorate. Self-reliance is the real strength. Pakistan’s pulses crisis shows that without strengthening agriculture, both the country’s plate and coffers can become empty.
For Pakistan, this has become not just a food crisis but a fight for survival. If concrete steps are not taken even now, a basic item like pulses may become a dream for the common people.
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