More than seventy years have passed, yet we continue to criticize Pakistani farmers for being backward and conservative. For decades, we have compared our agriculture with developed countries, introduced new experiments in the name of modernization, and even today we continue to repeat the same narrative. Colorful presentations, pictures of a few model farms, and impressive bureaucratic statistics dominate policy discussions. Unfortunately, those responsible for policymaking remain so detached from ground realities that neither the real problems are identified nor are practical solutions developed.

Pakistan’s Agriculture Is Built on Small Farmers

A few large landowners, their international-standard model farms, the latest technology, and fully automated machinery do not represent Pakistan’s agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of the national economy.

The real foundation of Pakistan’s agriculture is the traditional and semi-traditional farming system, supported by millions of poor and middle-income farmers.

پنجاب ایگریکلچر کانفرنس

Small farmers cultivating two or four acres of land, people dressed in simple clothes carrying sacks on their shoulders, young men driving tractors, laborers sowing seeds in fields, women cleaning grain in the courtyards of mud houses located far away from the glitter of Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and other major cities, and cows and buffaloes tied beneath trees outside these homes—all of them are the true guarantors of Pakistan’s economy and national food security.

قومی سلامتی پالیسی، فوڈ سیکیورٹی اور دیہی معاشی نظام ۔۔ مضامینِ نو، ڈاکٹر محمد جاسر آفتاب

Farmers Deserve Respect, Not Violence

As a nation, we should salute these farmers who continue to live in underdeveloped areas with limited access to quality healthcare and education. Through their tireless efforts, they not only produce our food but also keep Pakistan’s economy functioning.

Unfortunately, instead of appreciating their contribution, we criticize them for remaining away from modern lifestyles. Whenever they come onto the streets to demand their legitimate rights, they are often met with violence. Political sit-ins can continue for weeks without such reactions, yet the peaceful protest of poor farmers becomes difficult to tolerate even for a few hours or days.

Why Is the Farmer Treated Differently?

Government advisers often argue that medicine prices had to be increased because production costs had risen and uninterrupted supply needed to be ensured.

Does this principle apply only to industrialists and large business owners?

Does inflation not affect agriculture? Do increases in electricity tariffs, diesel prices, fertilizer costs, seed prices, and agricultural chemicals not increase the cost of agricultural production? Does rising inflation not affect the daily life of farmers?

Ignoring Farmers Threatens the Economy

Such an approach can prove extremely dangerous for Pakistan’s economy.

If farmers are continuously forced to sell their produce below the cost of production, they will gradually abandon farming. Agricultural land will increasingly be converted into housing societies, while migration from rural areas to cities will continue to accelerate.

Pakistan Needs Policies Based on Ground Realities

The continuous attempt to reshape Pakistan’s agricultural system according to foreign models should now come to an end.

We must first understand our own agricultural system and formulate solutions according to local realities. This understanding will not come through foreign study tours or meetings organized by international institutions. It will only come by spending time with farmers, understanding their environment, and listening to their problems.

Pakistan’s Greatest Strength Is Its Farmer

Whenever agriculture is discussed, we immediately begin comparing ourselves with developed countries and their modern machinery.

However, Pakistan’s greatest strength is not imported technology—it is the traditional relationship between farmers and agriculture.

Our first responsibility should be to reach these farmers, understand the conditions under which they work, and solve their practical problems. As their challenges decrease, their traditional farming systems will gradually improve. Increased profitability will naturally encourage them to adopt innovation over time.

At the same time, wherever modern farming systems are genuinely needed, efforts should also continue to promote them.

Violence Against Farmers Is Deeply Regrettable

The violence against protesting farmers in Lahore and the alleged death of a farmer during these events represent a deeply unfortunate development.

The increase in agricultural production costs due to inflation is a reality. Therefore, farmers’ demand for better prices for agricultural commodities cannot simply be dismissed as unjustified.

Such demands should not be answered with baton charges, tear gas, or water cannons. Instead, governments should engage with farmers, listen to their concerns, and seek practical middle-ground solutions through dialogue.

Agriculture Must Become a National Priority

Regardless of which government has been in power, farmers have rarely experienced sustained improvement in their economic condition. Even where temporary progress occurred, it proved short-lived because no long-term strategy was developed to strengthen Pakistan’s traditional agricultural system or improve the livelihoods of small farmers.

As a state, Pakistan must give genuine priority to the agriculture and livestock sectors. The time has come to stop treating these sectors as an afterthought and instead adopt serious, long-term agricultural policies that strengthen farmers, protect national food security, and secure the country’s economic future.