A 62PC increase in the agriculture sector is commendable in the Sindh budget, but is for con-ventional expenses rather than meeting any substantive core challenges in agriculture. The increase will be diverted mostly to salaries and allocations under foreign-funded projects. The government also did not talk about controlling the cost of input coupled with declining commodity prices. Blocked and encroached natural waterways remained a matter of concern, but the government has still not addressed this issue, even though it could help drain out water in floods and ensure efficient water utilisation.

Furthermore, he underscored the need to activate the Sindh Seed Corporation (SSC) to overcome deficiencies in seed quality. He said the SSC has 6,000 acres of land but has yet to make its presence felt in the agriculture sector.

The SSC could be aligned with the private sector for some research and development-oriented measures, using biotechnology to develop seeds. Oil seed production in Sindh is not focused on in the budget, although it could work as an import substitution for edibles. •