DESPITE being critically stressed, Pakistan`s agriculture sector will contribute $3 billion to our economy in 2023-24. Still, it has the potential to grow much more.If the new government takes a holistic approach, this potential can be realised by providing certified seeds, ensuring irrigation water supplies when needed most as w;ell as ensuring the availability of inputs and agricultural credit.

Furthermore, protection against climatic risks through insurance is also needed, which should be backed by research, extension and development. For example, the agriculture sector is going through a major fertiliser shock this year and will be overcharged to the extent of Rs13Obn-Rs150bn through black marketing of urea fertiliser.

The horticulture sector is another sub-sector which is of immense potential. Only five per cent to 7pc out of 13 million tonnes of production is added value, and about 30pc is wasted, which has a foregone value of $900 million. There is also immense potential for horticultural exports to countries on the CPEC route. • -MHK