THE economic survey reveals impressive growth in agriculture thanks to better crop yields.However, that needs to be sustained. The farmer had paid higher prices for inputs and received lower-than-expected returns. That would restrict farmers` ability to invest in the next season of crops.

The PML-N government presented the national and Punjab budgets, including a plan for investment in agriculture. The meagre agricultural share in the federal budget with direct allocation of Rs5bn for mechanisation and allocation for the water sector is being criticised.

The criticism also needs to be seen in the light of the 18th Amendment.

The Punjab government budget statement reflects a huge increase in allocation for agriculture and its allied sectors, with Rs64.6bn for crops, Rs4bn for forestry, Rs6.4bn for wildlife, Rs5.3bn for fisheries, Rs0.4bn for food, and Rs9bn for livestock and diary development.

Moreover, there is an allocation of Rs25.8bn for irrigation and Rs10bn for Environment and Climate Change, which supports agriculture. The green tractors initiative, interest-free loans for small farmers, solarisation of tube wells, model fish farms, and livestock cards are significant.However, the budgets are silent on correcting the market failures and mute on reforms in the research segments. •